Nico Williams is the winner of the 2024 Sobey Art Prize. This $100,000 honor is the largest prize in Canadian contemporary art.

The winner was announced Saturday evening in Ottawa at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC), which presents the prize in partnership with the Sobey Arts Foundation.

“It is with immense gratitude that I receive the 2024 Sobey Award,” read a statement from Williams. “Ten years ago, one of the most influential models, Nadia Myre, received this award. I want to send the same message to all the children of the bush, we do! Also, I am extremely grateful to everyone the people who have supported my practice from the very beginning I wouldn’t be where I am today without you!

The artist from the Montreal-based Aamjiwnaang First Nation was selected as a finalist to represent Quebec. Williams was previously named to the long list for the award in 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eR-DSUGezM

Jonathan Shaughnessy, director of curatorial initiatives at the NGC and chair of the 2024 Sobey Art Prize jury, said in a statement:

“The jury felt compelled to recognize the undeniable energy and relevance of Nico Williams’ approach to contemporary sculptural beadwork that allows us to imagine new possibilities for the medium. His works are impeccably precise transform everyday objects to the level of the spectacular and weave personal experiences into widely accessible narratives Working with and through community, Williams’ practice challenges the persistence of colonial legacies through the remaking of collective memory and knowledge. shared nostalgia.

The five finalists — Taqralik Partridge (Circumpolar), Mathieu Léger (Atlantic), June Clark (Ontario), Rhayne Vermette (Prairies) and Judy Chartrand (Pacific) — will each receive $25,000. An exhibition of the works of the six finalists remains on view at the National Gallery of Canada until April 6, 2025.

The nominees of the long list each receives $10,000.

First awarded in 2002, past winners of Canada’s top arts prize include Brian Jungen, Divya Mehra, Abbas Akhavan, Kapwani Kiwanga and Kablusiak, winner in 2023.

With a total of $465,000 in prizes awarded to 30 artists, the Sobey Art Prize is one of the world’s largest monetary awards in the field of art.

Read our coverage of the Sobey Arts Awardincluding Q&As with each of the six finalists.

THE Sobey Art Awards Exhibition continues at the National Gallery of Canada until April 6, 2025.