Tania Willard wins 2025 Sobey Art Award

Advertisement

Advertise with us

OTTAWA - British Columbia-based Tania Willard is taking home Canada’s richest prize for contemporary visual artists. 

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$0 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.75/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

OTTAWA – British Columbia-based Tania Willard is taking home Canada’s richest prize for contemporary visual artists. 

Willard was announced the winner of the Sobey Art Award at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa Saturday evening. 

A news release says Willard’s work weaves intergenerational knowledge of Secwépemc aunties in homage to their skills and innovation. 

The National Gallery of Canada is pictured from the banks of the Ottawa River in Ottawa on Monday, June 27, 2016.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The National Gallery of Canada is pictured from the banks of the Ottawa River in Ottawa on Monday, June 27, 2016.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Sobey Art award recognizes Canadian visual artists whose work “reflects upon and speaks of our contemporary moment nationally and globally” and has a top prize of $100,000.

The other shortlisted arists – Tarralik Duffy, Chukwudubem Ukaigwe, Sandra Brewster, Swapnaa Tamhane and Hangama Amiri – each receive $25,000. 

The award organizers say the jury was composed of six Canadian artists, and the shortlisted work is on display at the National Gallery of Canada until Feb. 8, 2026.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2025.

Report Error Submit a Tip