Anishinabe multidisciplinary artist Nico Williams is one of six finalists for the 2024 Sobey Art Prize, the National Gallery of Canada announced Tuesday. It is the country’s most important award for contemporary visual arts.
Montrealer Nico Williams, aged 35, creates sculptures with glass beads. In an interview, he says he draws inspiration from the objects he finds on his daily path. “For example, if I see tape that says ‘danger,’ I’ll take it to the studio. The team will ask me if we are really going to pearl this, and I will tell them yes,” he relates, amused.
In his own way, he believes he is giving a “new lease of life” to beading, which is an ancestral practice in North America. When he started working with these materials ten years ago, the artist was making small objects. Now, thanks to his teammates, he can start creating larger sculptures, like chairs. “Without them, it would be impossible to accomplish all this work,” he emphasizes.
His works, like those of the five other finalists, will be exhibited in Ottawa, at the National Gallery of Canada, from October 4, 2024 to March 16, 2025. One of the competing artists will walk away with the grand prize of $100,000.
Among the finalists, we find Taqralik Partridge, an author originally from Nunavik, as well as Judy Chartrand, an artist of Cree origin based in Vancouver. Rhayne Vermette, a Métis image maker and storyteller who lives in Winnipeg, June Clark, a Toronto artist, as well as Mathieu Léger, a New Brunswicker who uses performance, sound and image, are also part of the lot.
This year, the Sobey Art Award chose six finalists rather than five. The goal was to represent each region of Canada, adding the circumpolar one in this edition. The others are Quebec, Atlantic, Pacific, Prairies and Ontario.
In 2023, the distinction was awarded to multidisciplinary artist Kablusiak. The latter was born in Yellowknife and is based in Calgary.
The unveiling of the big winner of 2024 will take place on November 9, during an event held for this purpose.