Canada's most established contemporary visual arts prize recognizes Lotus L. Kang (Ontario region) for the commitment and rigour demonstrated in her practice for well over a decade

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 14, 2026 /CNW/ -- The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and the Sobey Art Foundation (SAF) are pleased to announce that Lotus L. Kang has been awarded the 2026 Sobey Art Award, Canada's most established prize in contemporary visual arts. The artist receives the award's $100,000 top prize. Marking its 23rd edition this year, the Sobey Art Award celebrates artists who are at a critical juncture in their careers.

The winner was announced this evening at a special celebration at the NGC, livestreamed to audiences across the country. The other five shortlisted artists—Melaw Nakehk'o (Circumpolar), Samuel Roy-Bois (Pacific), Audie Murray (Prairies), Caroline Monnet (Quebec) and Shane Perley-Dutcher (Atlantic)—each receive $25,000, while the 24 longlisted artists each receive $10,000, bringing the total value of the award to $465,000.

Lotus L. Kang's practice unfolds across sculpture, photography and site-responsive installation. She was born in Toronto.

"On behalf of the Sobey Art Foundation, our heartfelt congratulations to Lotus L. Kang on winning the 2026 Sobey Art Award," said Rob Sobey, Chair of the Sobey Art Foundation. "We also celebrate tonight all 29 artists on this year's longlist and shortlist for their creativity and vision. We are proud to champion their work and grateful to the National Gallery of Canada for helping bring these remarkable artistic voices to audiences at home and around the world."

"In selecting Lotus L. Kang, the Jury recognizes the commitment and rigour demonstrated in her practice for well over a decade. Through installations using unfixed photographic film, cast and found objects, and fabricated armatures, her practice resists the stabilizing impulses traditionally associated with photography. Reoccurring motifs including lotus root, flowers, soju bottles, birds, anchovies, are not fixed objects, but repositories of place, longing, and desire. We celebrate the increasingly global reach of Kang's poetic and beautiful work, which presents an active reflection on our contemporary moment," said Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives, NGC, and Chair of the 2026 Sobey Art Award Jury, on behalf of the jury.

"It is an honour to be recognized by this prize. I am grateful to those I love, those who love me, and those who have supported me; you keep me going. The recognition of this prize means that askew ideas are worth pursuing. Art is essential to life, progress and love. Thank you!," said Lotus L. Kang.

Selected by an independent jury of curators and cultural leaders, Lotus L. Kang was chosen following a rigorous review process. The jury evaluated the artists' practices, achievements, and contributions to contemporary visual arts in Canada before establishing the longlist, shortlist, and ultimately selecting the 2026 winner.

The members of the 2026 Sobey Art Award jury were:

• Krista Ulujuk Zawadski, Inuk scholar, curator, and mentor, representing the Circumpolar region;
• Kimberly Phillips, Director, The Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum, Simon Fraser University, representing the Pacific region;
• Su Ying Strang, Executive Director, Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin, representing the Prairies region;
• Julia Paoli, Director and Curator, The Vega Foundation, representing the Ontario region;
• Daisy Desrosiers, Britton Family Curator at Large, North America, Tate, representing the Quebec region;
• Emma Hasencahl-Perley, Curator of Indigenous Art, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, representing the Atlantic region; and
• Helen Nisbet, Director, Glasgow International, serving as international juror.

Artworks by all six shortlisted artists are currently featured in the 2026 Sobey Art Award Exhibition at the NGC. Bringing together a diverse range of artistic practices, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to engage with some of the most compelling and thought-provoking contemporary art being created in Canada today. Organized by the NGC and supported by the SAF, the exhibition is on view until January 3, 2027.

About the Sobey Art Award
The Sobey Art Foundation was established in 1981 by the late Frank H. Sobey, a dedicated collector of Canadian art. The Sobey Art Award (SAA) is Canada's preeminent prize for Canadian contemporary visual artists. Created in 2002 and privately funded by the Sobey Art Foundation (SAF), the award aims to promote new developments in contemporary visual arts and help to propel the careers of artists through financial support and recognition in Canada and beyond. The SAA has been jointly administered by the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and SAF since 2016.

The past SAA winners are: Brian Jungen (2002), Jean-Pierre Gauthier (2004), Annie Pootoogook (2006), Michel de Broin (2007), Tim Lee (2008), David Altmejd (2009), Daniel Barrow (2010), Daniel Young and Christian Giroux (2011), Raphaëlle de Groot (2012), Duane Linklater (2013), Nadia Myre (2014), Abbas Akhavan (2015), Jeremy Shaw (2016), Ursula Johnson (2017), Kapwani Kiwanga (2018), Stephanie Comilang (2019), Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory (2021), Divya Mehra (2022), Kablusiak (2023), Nico Williams (2024), and Tania Willard (2025).

About the National Gallery of Canada
Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the world's most respected art institutions. As a national museum, we exist to serve all Canadians, no matter where they live. We do this by sharing our collection, exhibitions and public programming widely. We create dynamic experiences that allow for new ways of seeing ourselves and each other through the visual arts, while centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Our mandate is to develop, preserve and present a collection for the learning and enjoyment of all—now and for generations to come. We are home to more than 90,000 works, including one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14^th to the 21^st century and extensive library and archival holdings. Our dazzling, light-filled building is situated on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, in Ottawa.

SOURCE National Gallery of Canada