To get a glimpse of the current landscape of contemporary art in Canada, one need only look at the lineup of artists contending for the prestigious 2026 Sobey Art Award. The latest batch of finalists was unveiled today by the Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada. From a group of previously identified hopefuls, a shortlist representing six regions across the country has been chosen.
The contenders for the 2026 Sobey Art Award include:
Melaw Nakehk’o from the Circumpolar region
Samuel Roy-Bois from the Pacific region
Audie Murray from the Prairies region
Lotus L. Kang from the Ontario region
Caroline Monnet from the Quebec region
Shane Perley-Dutcher from the Atlantic region
<img loading="lazy" alt="A crown-shaped sculpture made of silver, copper, brass, and a