Winners of the 2026 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts Announced

On 16 September 2026, the winners of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts were announced, honouring eight Canadian artists for their achievements in visual and media arts, fine crafts, and contributions to contemporary art. The awards are among the most respected in Canada’s arts sector and are presented annually.

This year’s laureates represent a wide range of artistic practices and backgrounds. Chung-Im Kim, a textile artist and educator based in Cookstown, Ontario, received the Saidye Bronfman Award, which celebrates excellence in fine craft. As part of the award tradition, the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Québec, will acquire works by Kim.

Roger Lee, an art historian from Vancouver, was recognised with the award for outstanding contribution to contemporary visual and media arts. Lee is known for his work as a collector and cultural advocate, and his collection of Yixing teapots reflects his approach to uniting aesthetic inquiry with cultural memory, particularly in the context of Asian and diasporic art history in Canada.

The other recipients include Faye HeavyShield, a sculptor and installation artist from the Kainai First Nations; Carole Itter, an artist and filmmaker based in Vancouver; Zacharias Kunuk, an Inuk sculptor and filmmaker; Lyne Lapointe, an artist based in Québec; Marie-Jeanne Musiol, a photographer from Gatineau known for her photograms and experimental videos exploring the electromagnetic imprints of plants; and Skawennati, a Montréal-based Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist.

Each winner will receive a bronze medallion and a monetary prize of C$25,000. The Governor General’s Awards distribute up to eight prizes each year: six for artistic achievements, one for exceptional fine craft, and one for outstanding contribution to the fields of visual and media arts or fine crafts.

An exhibition featuring selected works by the 2026 award winners will open at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on 7 November. This exhibition will provide the public with an opportunity to engage with the diverse artistic practices and cultural perspectives represented by the laureates.

The Governor General’s Awards continue to highlight the essential role of artists in Canadian society, reflecting the country’s cultural diversity and fostering dialogue through creative expression.