The Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada are thrilled to announce the 25 artists longlisted for the 2021 Sobey Art Award. Globally recognized as one of the world’s most generous privately funded prizes for contemporary visual artists, the Award celebrates the careers of emerging Canadian artists of all ages through financial support, an exhibition highlighting the practices of the five short-listed artists, as well as national and international recognition.
“On behalf of the Sobey Art Foundation, I want to congratulate all 25 longlisted artists for the 2021 Sobey Art Award. This year, the longlist prize has been increased to 10,000 CAD per artist so that every nominated artist will receive meaningful financial support to sustain their practices—while raising the overall prize-value of the award to 400,000 CAD,” said Rob Sobey, Chair, Sobey Art Foundation. “The unprecedented number of first-time, longlisted artists resonates loudly with the Sobey Art Foundation’s commitment to amplify new voices. I am pleased to see such an exciting array of emerging artists from coast to coast to coast. Thank you to the Jury—their process has been thoughtful and their optimism for the future is palpable in the long list. We look forward to celebrating these exceptional artists and contemporary art for all that it contributes to society.”
“The Sobey Art Award connects with new voices and celebrates the importance of contemporary art in daily life,” said Sasha Suda, Director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. “In my first year as Chair of the Jury, I’m thrilled that the Sobey Art Award received a record number of nominations and many from outside of the large urban centers that we often associate with the art world. I couldn’t be prouder of the conversation at the jury table and the thoughtful and hard work and that each juror has contributed. Most of all, it has been an extraordinary privilege to learn about the amazing art being made from coast to coast to coast.”
Here is the full list of 25 emerging visual artists longlisted for the 2021 Sobey Art Award, from across the five regions of Canada.
Ontario
Parastoo Anoushahpour, Faraz Anoushahpour, Ryan Ferko
Jawa El Khash
Tanya Lukin Linklater
Esmaa Mohamoud
Rajni Perera
