The Sobey Art Award has announced its six finalists for 2024: Melaw Nakehk'o, Samuel Roy-Bois, Audie Murray, Lotus L. Kang, Caroline Monnet, and Shane Perley-Dutcher. Nakehk'o, a Yellowknife-based textile artist and co-founder of the collective Dene Nahjo, is noted for reviving traditional moosehide tanning. The winner receives $100,000, while each remaining finalist gets $25,000. The award is presented by the Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada, with the winner announced on November 14.
This shortlist matters because the Sobey Art Award is Canada's most prestigious prize for contemporary visual artists under 40, offering significant financial support and national visibility. The diverse group highlights Indigenous and regional practices—from moosehide tanning to Wabanaki basketry—and underscores the award's role in elevating underrepresented voices and traditional techniques within contemporary art. The accompanying exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada will bring these practices to a broad audience, reinforcing the award's impact on the Canadian art landscape.