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I received a couple emails yesterday, all of which asked in some form or another, “Which artists are producing some of the best work in Canada?” While I’m not sure if I’m totally qualified to accurately answer such a question (there are so many), I thought that the best thing to do is point those of you who are interested in the right direction.

Like all art, a label like “the best” or “the brightest” is completely problematic. I think in terms deciding what art you enjoy and how that work connects with you in a meaningful way, it should be something wholly personal. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If it floats your boat, don’t deny it! However, if I were forced to decide on a group of artists who best represent the greatest art being made in Canada today I would simply say, the Sobey Art Award.

Created in 2002 by the Sobey Art Foundation, the $50,000 prize is one of Canada’s largest art awards for an artist under 40. More info from the foundation:

A panel of curatorial advisors, consisting of a representative from a major gallery in each of five regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and the North, and West Coast), develops the shortlist. The panel selects five artists from each region to make up the long list of 25 artists. The curatorial panel then meets and chooses one representative from each region to be included on the national shortlist. The panel selects the winner.

All of the Sobey Art Award finalists to date have represented the remarkable breadth of practices that make up contemporary Canadian art. The works by the finalists featured in the Sobey Art Award exhibitions have surprised and engaged audiences, placing these artists as the avant-garde; the leaders within their regions and the ambassadors for Canada on an international stage.

Mirrored in a similar fashion to the controversial Turner Prize, the Sobey Art Award announces a long and short list of nominees under categories specific to the geographical and provincial regions of Canada. This is not only a great way to see how varied the styles and conceptual handling are across Canada, but it is also a terrific compilation of the massive amount of professional talent there is to be seen.

One aspect where the Sobey Award differs from so many other grants, fellowships, and awards, is in its selected winner. While you would be hard pressed to find a large amount of minority artists in other competitions in the US and abroad (unless they are actively directed towards minorities), the Sobey Art Award takes an honest stance and selects the most deserving. In fact, none of the past winners have been anglo (native language is English) and two are First Nations artists (if only they could include more women).

2007 WINNER: Michel de Broin (Quebec)