Nico Williams wins Canadian Sobey Art Award

The Sobey Art Award recognizes Canadian visual artists at a critical juncture in their careers and whose work reflects upon and speaks of our contemporary moment nationally and globally. Nico Williams ᐅᑌᒥᐣ (Québec) has a multidisciplinary and often collaborative practice that is centred around sculptural beadwork. Williams lives and works in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, Québec, and is a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation (Anishinaabe).

“On behalf of the Sobey Art Foundation, our warmest congratulations to Nico Williams, the winner of the 2024 Sobey Art Award,” said Bernard Doucet, Executive Director, The Sobey Art Foundation (SAF). “We would also like thank and congratulate all shortlisted and all longlisted artists from across the country who, for the first year ever, were selected by an all-artist jury, in addition to an international juror. With the addition of Circumpolar as a sixth region, this has been an incredible year for the Sobey Art Award to be able to engage with artists from across the country. With this evolution in our structure, our partner, the NGC has been able to increase representation, and support more incredible Canadian artists in attracting national and international acclaim. Our gratitude goes to the team at the National Gallery of Canada for again providing an important platform to discover Canada’s leading contemporary art voices.”

“The jury felt compelled to recognize the undeniable energy and pertinence of Nico Williams’ approach to contemporary sculptural beadwork that allows us to imagine new possibilities for the medium. His impeccably precise artworks transform everyday objects to the level of the spectacular and weave personal experiences into broadly relatable narratives. Working with and through community, Williams’ practice challenges the persistence of colonial legacies through the surfacing of collective memory and shared nostalgias,” said Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives, National Gallery of Canada; and Chair, 2024 Sobey Award Jury.

“It’s with immense gratitude to receive the 2024 Sobey award. Ten years ago, one of the most influential role models, Nadia Myre, received this prize. I want to send out the same message to all the bush kids out there, we are doing it!  Also, I am extremely grateful to all the people who have stood behind my practice since the very beginning! I wouldn’t be where i am today without you! Chi-miigwech!,” said Nico Williams.

This year, Circumpolar was added as a sixth nomination region. Prize money now totals $465,000. Funded by the Sobey Art Foundation, this is the richest award in contemporary visual arts in the country and one of the most generous in the world.

Nico Williams as selected as the winner of the 2024 Sobey Art Award by an independent jury. For the first time ever, the jury was comprised of six Canadian artists, all former Sobey Art Award finalists or winners, with representation from each of the regions, as well as an international juror. They reviewed all nominations and established the long and short lists as well as the winner based on the artists’ respective careers to date.