Tania Willard, a member of the Secwépemc First Nation, has won the 2025 Sobey Art Award, Canada’s top contemporary art prize, at a ceremony at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The award, announced by last year’s winner Nico Williams, comes with C$100,000 ($71,200). Willard’s multidisciplinary practice spans basketry, sculpture, public art, and land-based projects, and she is also a prominent curator. The five other finalists each received C$25,000. Works by all finalists are on view at the NGC until February 2026.
The Sobey Art Award recognizes Canadian artists at a pivotal career stage, and Willard’s win highlights the growing recognition of Indigenous-led, land-based contemporary art within mainstream institutions. Her practice challenges conventional definitions of art by centering Indigenous knowledge, sustainability, and community connection. The award will support her advocacy for Indigenous resurgence and creative expression in both urban and rural contexts, underscoring the importance of art as a tool for cultural power and resilience.