Suzy Lake Wins the 2016 Scotiabank Photography Award!
May 4, 2016
Congratulations to the fabulous Suzy Lake for this richly-deserved recognition!
(More reason for celebration at her Opening at McMaster this Thursday!)
Scotiabank named Suzy Lake as the winner of the sixth annual Scotiabank Photography Award. The winner was announced May 3rd at a Gala Reception at the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto.
The prestigious Scotiabank Photography Award includes a $50,000 cash prize, a solo Primary Exhibition at the Ryerson Image Centre during the 2017 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, and a book of the winner’s work to be published and distributed worldwide by renowned art book publisher Gerhard Steidl.
With a long-standing history of acknowledging and nurturing the history of Canadian photography, Scotiabank aims to engage Canadians with photographic art and the vision and accomplishments of some of our country’s most gifted artists. In doing so, it also helps connect the public with a deeper understanding of the issues and forces of our time.
“Suzy Lake’s pioneering, long-term photographic exploration in the arena of performative, feminist and self-identification themes places her firmly in the vanguard of Canadian greats” said Edward Burtynsky, Chair of the Scotiabank Photography Award jury and internationally renowned Canadian photo artist. “Her influence has spread throughout several generations of artists, both nationally and internationally. We look forward to collaborating with Suzy to create a great book and exhibit in the coming year.”
As Canada’s largest and most prestigious annual peer-nominated and peer-reviewed award, the Scotiabank Photography Award is designed to provide support to a mid to late career artist and strives to accelerate their career as he or she reaches for the next level of national and international recognition.
With a long-standing history of acknowledging and nurturing the history of Canadian photography, Scotiabank aims to engage Canadians with photographic art and the vision and accomplishments of some of our country’s most gifted artists. In doing so, it also helps connect the public with a deeper understanding of the issues and forces of our time. Scotiabank is also the proud title sponsor of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, and Founding Partner of the Canadian Photography Institute – a global centre for excellence in photography at the National Gallery of Canada.
“The arts enrich the communities where we live and encourage us to develop new perspectives, providing us with inspiration to pursue our own passions,” said Barb Mason, Group Head & Chief Human Resources Officer. “Suzy Lake has worked to invent, influence and redefine art in enduring ways, and made an outstanding contribution to contemporary art and photography.”
Ms. Lake joins an exclusive group of artists who have been honoured with the Scotiabank Photography Award that includes Angela Grauerholz (2015), Mark Ruwedel (2014), Stan Douglas (2013), Arnaud Maggs (2012) and Lynne Cohen (2011).
Suzy Lake began her art practice in 1968, after moving to Montreal from her birthplace, Detroit, following the social and political unrest of the 1960’s. Ms. Lake was among the first female artists in Canada to adopt performance, video and photography to explore the politics of gender, the body, and identity. In 1972 she formed Véhicule Art Inc. with 12 other artists to establish one of the first artist-run centres in Canada. She moved to Toronto in 1978 where she became a co-founder of the Toronto Photographers Workshop. Ms. Lake taught for 40 years in Montreal, Toronto and most recently as head of the University of Guelph photo department. Lake currently lives and makes work in Toronto.
Suzy Lake was selected from a group of three finalists, which also included Pascal Grandmaison and Jayce Salloum by a jury composed of distinguished members of the Canadian arts community. The two shortlisted artists receive cash prizes of $10,000 each. Members of the 2016 jury included:
- Robert Bean, Professor, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University (NSCAD), Artist, Writer and Curator, Halifax, Nova Scotia;
- Catherine Bédard, Deputy Director of the Canadian Cultural Centre, Art Historian, Paris, France; and
- Robert Enright, Professor and University Research Chair in Art Theory and Criticism, University of Guelph, Ontario, and Senior Contributing Editor Border Crossings Magazine, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
2015 Scotiabank Photography Award winner, Angela Grauerholz, debuts her solo Primary Exhibition during this year’s Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Members of the public can visit the Scotiabank Photography Award Angela Grauerholz Exhibition free of charge at the Ryerson Image Centre (33 Gould Street, Toronto) from May 4 to August 21, 2016.
For more information about the Scotiabank Photography Award winner, finalists and jury, please visit the website at www.scotiabankphotoaward.com
(Marketwired – May 3, 2016)
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