Multidisciplinary artist Taqralik Partridge has been shortlisted for the 2024 Sobey Art Award. Representing the Circumpolar category, Partridge, who is from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, QC, and based in Ottawa, ON, is vying against five other artists from across Canada for the $100,000 annual prize.

Partridge made the shortlist alongside Judy Chartrand (Pacific); Rhayne Vermette (Prairies); June Clark (Ontario); Nico Williams ᐅᑌᒥᐣ (Québec) and Mathieu Léger (Atlantic). All six artists will receive $25,000 and be featured in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) in Ottawa, ON, from October 4, 2024, to March 16, 2025. The winner of the award will be announced at an event on November 9, 2024. 

Partridge is known for her multidisciplinary practice that includes writing, spoken word, beading, textile work, installation and more. Her work has been included in a number of exhibitions including the nationally touring group exhibition Radical Stitch, now on at the NGC until September 30, 2024; and her first solo exhibition, Taqralik Partridge: ᐳᓛᖃᑎᒌᑦ (Pulaaqatigiit), was on view earlier this year at Onsite Gallery in Toronto, ON. In 2018 Partridge’s short story “Fifteen Lakota Visitors” was shortlisted for a CBC Short Story Prize. She is also an accomplished curator, previously holding positions at SAW Galerie’s Nordic Lab, the Art Gallery of Guelph and the Art Gallery of Ontario. 

This year the NGC added a sixth region to the nomination process—the Circumpolar region—that includes artists from Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. The new region devotes representation to northern artists and ensures their recognition alongside artists in other parts of Canada. It also means that for the first time, six artists have been shortlisted for this award. 

Partridge was among four Inuit artists longlisted for the Sobey Art Award this year, alongside Eldred Allen, Jason Sikoak and Jessica Winters—the highest number of Inuit artists longlisted in one year to date. A number of Inuit artists have been nominated and have won the award in recent years, marking a significant increase since Annie Pootoogook became the first Inuk winner in 2006. Mark Igloliorte and Couzyn van Heuvelen were longlisted in 2012 and 2018 respectively; Glenn Gear and Maureen Gruben were longlisted in 2021 for the award that Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory went on to win. asinnajaq was longlisted in 2020 when the award was distributed amongst the entire longlist, and most recently in 2023, Kablusiak became the first Inuvialuk to win several years after they were first shortlisted in 2019. 

“This year, the peer-to-peer conversation brought forward by an artist-led jury resulted in recognizing six artists whose vision, determination and commitment to innovation has remained unwavering,” said Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives, National Gallery of Canada, and Chair, 2024 Sobey Award Jury. “Each one is fully deserving of the widespread recognition that accompanies the Sobey Art Award spotlight.”

This year's jury is composed of asinnajaq (Circumpolar); Jeremy Shaw (Pacific); Divya Mehra (Prairies); Stephanie Comilang (Ontario); Caroline Monnet (Québec); Mario Doucette (Atlantic); and Zoé Whitley, Director, Chisenhale Gallery, UK (international).


Correction, Aug 5, 2024: This article was updated from a previous version to say this year has the highest number of Inuit artists longlisted in one year to date. The IAQ regrets the error.