Celebrating visual art of the human form / Célébrer l’art visuel de la forme humaine

Awards

Figureworks 2025

On January 9, 2025, we will celebrate 44 artist finalists.

Photo: 2022 Mark Stephenson

Doug Andrews, Tom Ashbourne, Robyn Asquini, Kendall Ayoub Nichols, Colette Beardall, Tim Birchard, Monique Campbell, Kaya Comeau, Robert Creighton, Olivia Di Gregorio, Marc Dubois, Samira El-Kassis, Ann Ellis, Danni Elsie, Jennifer Globush, Lynn Glover, Michael Greer, Onno Kremers, Sarah Lacy, Isabelle Langevin, Victoria Laube, Ruth Less, Steven Lewis, Rob Little, Monica Lowe, Janet Lutz, Jim Maunder, Eva McCauley, Erin McCluskey, Erin McGean, Iryna Merkulova, Sapphire Moroz, Leah Mowers, Maureen Paxton, Wilam Quesnel, Tim Rahrer, Kate Roy, Roger Schmidt, Bonnie Sheckter, Michael Silverstone, Nicholas Thompson, Beata Tyrala, Elsa Frances Wiebe, Geoffrey Wonnacott

On January 9, 2025 we will celebrate 44 artist finalists for Figureworks® 2025. This year the prize received 244 entries from 160 artists located across Canada, including photographs, sculptures, paintings, drawings, prints, and digital art.

Vernissage

When:

Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 18:00 to 21:00.
Prize winners will be announced at 19.30.

Where

Wallack Galleries, 305 Bank St, Ottawa.

Exhibition continues

January 9 to January 18, 2025. See Wallack Galleries for hours of operation.

Finalists

The Jury

Submission guidelines

The Jury

The Figureworks prize is evaluated by a jury of peer professional artists, curators and arts administrators representing a broad range of media and forms of art.

Olivia Johnston

Andrew Morrow

Jiaxuan Yi

More about the jury

Winners

2025 Figureworks Prize – $2000

Portals, Contact

by Ruth Less

Jury Statement

The jury said that this is a very powerful piece, beautiful and gentle, and one of these works that you need to go to.

It is of a female subject taking back the gaze in self representation, and its subject matter deals with something very difficult, connected with discussions contemporary to our time, notably sexual assault and disembodiment.

In much of Western art history, says one juror, artists almost fight with time or work with time. This piece is composed of several images, and we can see different approaches of handling time. There is movement, but as the piece employs 4-5 photography, the artist could only have put this together one shot at a time to then reload.

This was a piece where the jury really saw the hand and labour of the artist in the work. Set on a beautiful handmade cotton rag object, and combining cyanotype, which is one of the oldest photographic processes, and known for its ease in learning, but which is used here in a very contemporary way.

The shots that compose the work use different values and shutter speeds. We can see deliberate choices in the processing through tape, and this can make the viewer feel like these are being stitched onto the object. Even the pencil drawing, seen as talking to itself, is used masterfully.

Ruth Less, Portals, Contact, 2023, Cyanotype on cotton rag, 13 x 18in

Honorable mention – $500

4 out of 5 stars - Emilie

Kaya Comeau, 4 out of 5 stars - Emilie; 1, 2023, Photography - inject print, 30 x 20in

Jury statement

This piece is deemed both conceptually strong and technically sound. Representing the nude, this work provides what is an old shape – in the history of Western artistic tradition – with a new definition, bringing underrepresented subject matter into the light.

This photograph evokes the shapes of the Venus of Willendorf and fits within the centuries-long span of artistic depictions of the nude female model – posing for artists being work very often performed by sex workers throughout the ages. The integration of text particular to our era anchors clearly when within this range this work is situated. For these reasons, the jury gives its honourable mention to this self-portrait.

Honorable mention – $500

Craig

Jennifer Globush, Craig, 2023, Charcoal and graphite on paper, 23 x 23 x 1.5in

Jury statement

In the jury's words, this honour is for a piece which is surprising in its technique, and one which suits the subject matter, with a high level of representational ability. This portrait, which one juror described as having “both eyes looking for conversation” was recognized as having a strong concept as part of a series in graphite and in charcoal, examining those who live and work in northern Canada.

Honorable mention – $500

Plant Whisperer

Iryna Merkulova, Plant Whisperer, 2024, Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 x 1.5in

Jury statement

This honourable mention is given in recognition of its contemporary subject matter and beautiful sense of lighting and calm isolation. This work directs a sense of space and of colour, to render – with confident brushwork and strong literacy in the language of oil paint – a portrait of an artist in the studio.

People's Choice Award

it's going to apply

Elsa Frances Wiebe, it's going to apply, 2024, inkjet image transfer on repurposed fabric, 6 x 11in

Gallery of Finalists

In alphabetical order by artists name.

Jake

Doug Andrews, Jake, 2022, Oil on canvas, 39 x 21in

http://www.artistdougandrews.com

Tommy

Tom Ashbourne SSC SCA OSA, Tommy, 2022, bronze, 15 x 8 x 5in

http://www.tomashbourne.com

Pangea

Robyn Asquini, Pangea, 2023, Oil on wood panel, 48 x 24in

http://robynasquini.com

Ebb and Flow

Robyn Asquini, Ebb and Flow, 2023, Oil on polyflax cotton panel, 24 x 18in

http://robynasquini.com

Kylie

Kendall Ayoub Nichols, Kylie, 2024, Oil on canvas, 48 x 36in

http://www.kendallayoubnichols.com

Erin

Kendall Ayoub Nichols, Erin, 2021, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30in

http://www.kendallayoubnichols.com

Nature's Warrior

Colette Beardall, Nature's Warrior, 2024, Clay fired in oxidation in an electric kiln. Clay, slip, engobes and glazes., 13 x 10 x 7in

https://colettebeardall.com

self(ie)

Tim Birchard, self(ie), 2023, digital print on cotton based paper, 20 x 16in

https://queerclouds.com/

Uwe Reading

Monique Campbell, Uwe Reading, 2024, Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl Archival Photo PaperBlack wooden frame and white matte, 14 x 21in

https://www.momentsbymonique.com

4 out of 5 stars - Emilie

Kaya Comeau, 4 out of 5 stars - Emilie; 1, 2023, Photography - inject print, 30 x 20in

http://kayaphotos.com

Pound

Robert Creighton, Pound, 2024, Ink, paper, 16.5 x 13.75in

time heals

Robert Creighton, time heals, 2023, Ink, paper, 11.75 X 10.25in

Death Doula

Olivia Di Gregorio, Death Doula, 2023, Oil paint on wood panel, 20 x 16 x 1.5

https://www.oliviadigregorio.com/

Portriat of Drew Benard

Marc Dubois, Portriat of Drew Benard, 2024, Oil on masonite board, 9 x 12in

Portrait of Yves-Carol

Marc Dubois, Portrait of Yves-Carol, 2023, Oil on masonite board, 8 x 10in

Self Portrait #3

samira El-Kassis, Self Portrait #3, 2023, Oil on Cradle Wood Canvas, 24 x 18in

http://www.samiraelkassis.com

Teghan

Ann Ellis, Teghan, 2021, Photograph printed with pigment ink on Baryta, 40 x 28 x 1in

Lizzy

Ann Ellis, Lizzy, 2022, Photograph printed with pigment ink on Baryta, 40 x 28 x 1in

Danni Elsie, Untitled; Physiological Anesthetic, 2024, 2024, Fiber-base gelatin silver print, 10 x 8in

Untitled; Psychological Anesthetic

Danni Elsie, Untitled; Psychological Anesthetic, 2024, 2024, Fiber-base gelatin silver print, 10 x 8in

Craig

Jennifer Globush, Craig, 2023, Charcoal and graphite on paper, 23 x 23 x 1.5in

http://www.jenniferglobush.com

Zip It

Lynn Glover, Zip It, 2024, PorcelainUnderglazes, Glazes, 13 x 7 x 6in

http://goatandrabbitpottery.com

Bird Man

Michael Greer, Bird Man, 2023, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 x 1.5in

http://www.michaelgreerart.com

Submerged

onno Kremers, Submerged, 2024, Digital print, painted and reshot submerged in ice. Mounted on aluminum, 11 x 17in

@ottawaonno

The Anatomy of Metamorphosis

Sarah Lacy, The Anatomy of Metamorphosis, 2024, oil on panel, 16 x 12in

http://www.smlacyart.com

Behind closed doors

Isabelle Langevin, Behind closed doors, 2023, acrylic on paper mounted on wood, 24 x 24in

https://www.isabellelangevinpeintre.com

Conflation #4 - Self Portrait

Victoria Laube, Conflation #4 - Self Portrait, 2024, Photograph - pigment ink on cotton rag, 21.5 x 16in

http://victorialaube.com

Portals, Contact

Ruth Less, Portals, Contact, 2023, Cyanotype on cotton rag, 13 x 18in

@ruthless_analog

Angel

Steven Lewis, Angel, 2023, Oil glaze on MDF panel, 20 x 16 x 2in

http://stevenlewisart.com

Sacha; Weft Under the Warp

Rob Little, Sacha; Weft Under the Warp, 2024, 2024, Fiber-base gelatin silver, 20 x 16in

Jesus; Weft Under the Warp

Rob Little, Jesus; Weft Under the Warp, 2024, 2024, Fiber-base gelatin silver, 20 x 16in

Hiding (a self-portrait)

Monica Lowe, Hiding (a self-portrait), 2024, Cotton Fabric, 21 x 20in

Repose

Janet Lutz, Repose, 2023, Black coloured pencil on Strathmore Series 400 Sketch paper, 17.5 x 23.5in

Woman Dancing with a Fish (AP)

Jim Maunder, Woman Dancing with a Fish (AP), 2024, Bronze, 18 x 14.5 x 9in

http://jimmaunder.ca

Quarry Swimmers at Night

Eva McCauley, Quarry Swimmers at Night, 2022, Oil on cradled birch panel, 36 x 36 x 1.5in

http://www.evamccauley.com

Self Portrait Seated by Blank Wall with Projected Landscape

Erin McCluskey, Self Portrait Seated by Blank Wall with Projected Landscape, 2023, Oil on Canvas, 24 x 30 x 1.5in

http://www.erin-mccluskey.com

Reemerge

Erin McGean, Reemerge, 2022, Paper collage of vintage materials. (includes an animated version that can be viewed with augmented reality using smartphones and the Artivive App), 7 x 8in

https://www.erinmcgean.com/

Hexxed

Erin McGean, Hexxed, 2022, Paper collage of vintage materials. Also includes an animated version that can be viewed with augmented reality using smartphones and the Artivive App., 8 x 10in

https://www.erinmcgean.com/

Plant Whisperer

Iryna Merkulova, Plant Whisperer, 2024, Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 x 1.5in

http://irynamerkulova.com

Mirror (Looking at you looking at me)

Sapphire Moroz, Mirror (Looking at you looking at me), 2024, Oil on wood, found stand, mirror, 60 x 24 x 19in

http://sapphiremoonmoroz.com

Home

leah mowers, Home, 2024, Pigment ink on Photo Rag, 20 x 30in

Sleepwalkers

Maureen Paxton, Sleepwalkers, 2024, Etching on BFK Rives paper, 15.5 x 12in

http://www.maureenpaxton.com

Dancing Mother

Maureen Paxton, Dancing Mother, 2023, Etching on BFK RIves paper, 16.5 x 12in

http://www.maureenpaxton.com

Strapped & Guarded

Wilam Quesnel, Strapped & Guarded, 2024, Oil on canvas, 24 x 24in

@w.aurele

liam 2

Tim Rahrer, liam 2, 2024, Pigment ink on archival paper, from scan of hand coated gum bichromate print from monochrome film negative, 20 x 16in

emerging from hemikrania

Tim Rahrer, emerging from hemikrania, 2024, Pigment ink on archival paper, from scan of hand coated 8x10 glass dryplate negative, 14 x 11in

Endometriosis

Kate Roy, Endometriosis, 2024, Pigment ink on photo rag, 7 x 4.36in

Kate In The Morning Light

Roger Schmidt, Kate In The Morning Light, 2024, Mixed media: Black & white charcoal, acrylic on birch panel, 36 x 24in

http://www.rogerschmidtfineart.com

Raj

Bonnie Sheckter, Raj, 2024, Coloured Pencil Drawing on Drafting Film, 21 x 17in

Cooling Down (Self-Portrait)

Michael Silverstone, Cooling Down (Self-Portrait), 2023, Lyra Rembrandt HB, B Graphite , White Acrylic, Sakura Gel Pen On Arches 140lb hot Press Watercolour Paper, 18 x 18in

http://www.michaelsilverstone.ca

Intermission: Rowan

Nicholas Thompson, Intermission: Rowan, 2023, Carved limestone., 7 x 6 x 5in

http://www.nicholasthompson.ca

Intermission: Mia

Nicholas Thompson, Intermission: Mia, 2021, Carved greed sandstone., 12 x 8 x 7in

http://www.nicholasthompson.ca

Resonance

Beata Tyrala, Resonance, 2024, Soft pastel, graphite, watercolour on watercolour paper. , 20.75 x 28.5in

http://www.beatatyrala.com

it's going to apply

Elsa Frances Wiebe, it's going to apply, 2024, inkjet image transfer on repurposed fabric, 6 x 11in

@efwportfolio

Sleeper

Geoffrey Wonnacott, Sleeper, 2021, Pine, lead sheet, nails., 66 x 30 x 23in