Aubyn O’Grady Recipient of the 2025 Yukon Prize for Visual Arts

Aubyn O’Grady headshot. Photo: Evan Rensch

Aubyn O’Grady Receives $20,000 Yukon Prize for Visual Arts

Aubyn O’Grady has been named the recipient of the 2025 Yukon Prize for Visual Arts.

The $20,000 prize was awarded October 4 following a Yukon-wide competition that was juried by three outstanding arts professionals from across Canada.

In accepting the award, Aubyn gave credit to all of those who had taught and trained her and said that she takes this seriously and is hoping to carry it forward. “As anyone who makes artwork in the Yukon knows, we don’t do it alone. And it means a lot that the type of art that I do, that sometimes is not easy to explain and not really meant to travel, is recognized in this forum. To my fellow finalists, longlisted artists and all the other artists in the room – you are my idols, and I am so proud of all of us!”

Aubyn O’Grady, of Dawson, Yukon, was one of six finalists. The other finalists, who each received $3,000, are: Jane Isakson, Whitehorse YT; Meshell Melvin, Whitehorse YT; Randi Nelson, Secwépemc artist from St’uxwtéws First Nation, Whitehorse YT; Jeneen Frei Njootli, Vuntut Gwitchin artist, Old Crow YT; and Jackie Olson, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, Dawson YT.

Seven more artists made the long list for this year’s prize. The longlisted artists are: Michel Gignac, Whitehorse YT; Megan (Guná) Jensen, Dakhká Tlingit/Tagish Khwáan Ancestry from the Dahk’laweidi Clan, Whitehorse YT; Jeffrey Langille, Dawson YT; Matthew Lien, Whitehorse YT; Joyce Majiski, Whitehorse YT; Helen O’Connor, Whitehorse YT; and Omar Reyna, Whitehorse YT.

The recipient of the Yukon Prize was chosen by a jury of three highly regarded arts professionals:

• Sarah Moore Fillmore, CEO of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia;
• Dr. Heather Igloliorte (Inuk-Newfoundlander, Nunatsiavut), Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Victoria; and
• Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives and Interim Senior Curator, Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Canada.

Left to right: Jonathan Shaughnessy, Sarah Moore Fillmore, Dr. Heather Igloliorte, Jane Isakson, Aubyn O’Grady, Randi Nelson, Jeneen Frei Njootli, Meshell Melvin, Jackie Olson. Photo: Bruce Barrett

Yukon Prize for the Visual Arts co-founders Julie Jai and David Trick announced the recipient during a celebration at the Yukon Arts Centre on October 4.

The gala capped three days of events to celebrate Yukon visual artists, including art talks, workshops and art tours. Seventeen Whitehorse venues opened their doors for the Yukon Prize Air North Art Crawl, attracting hundreds of visitors to see Yukon art, meet the artists, and hear live music provided by Jazz Yukon. Ten artists offered public tours at their studios in Whitehorse, Golden Horn, Carcross Road and Haines Junction.

The Yukon Prize was first offered in 2021. The Prize recognizes excellence by Yukon visual artists, provides prize money to help artists focus full-time on creating art, and promotes Yukon art and artists nationally and internationally.

This year’s events were organized by a large group of volunteers and partners, including the Yukon Arts Centre and the Yukon Arts Foundation. Platinum sponsors this year were Lotteries Yukon, the Yukon Government, Air North, Yukon’s Airline, and Power Corporation of Canada.

A show of the art of the 2025 Yukon Prize finalists’ work continues until November 18 at the Yukon Arts Centre. An exhibition of work from the longlisted artists is on view at Arts Underground in Whitehorse until November 29.

Aubyn O’Grady, League of Lady Wrestlers. Photo: Mike Thomas

About Aubyn O’Grady
Recipient of the 2025 Yukon Prize for Visual Arts

Aubyn O’Grady is the Program Director of the Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA) in Dawson City. Her research-creation practice explores artist-led schools, the ethics of site-specific and land-based work, and how artists engage with rural places. Collaboration is central to her work, which has taken the form of large-scale performance projects, community exchanges, and experimental research initiatives.

She is credited with founding the Dawson City League of Lady Wrestlers (2013–2017), a feminist performance art project that grew to include hundreds of wrestlers and spin-off leagues across Canada and Alaska. Other projects include the Swimming Lessons Aquatic Lecture Series (2017–2018), Local Field School (2020–present), and Drawlidays (2019–2020), a town-wide portrait exchange.

O’Grady first came to Dawson City in 2009 as a student in Yukon SOVA’s Foundation Year Program, an experience that shaped her understanding of education and the value of curiosity. Since then, her socially engaged practice has included a wide range of community-based works: a participatory film on housing insecurity in the Yukon; a film on the instability of Dawson’s ice bridge; and sewn banners in collaboration with Hän language teachers reflecting themes of camaraderie and women’s hockey. In all her projects, O’Grady seeks to create spaces where audiences can imagine alternate realities and “test out” other ways of being together.

Quotes

“The Yukon has an astonishing number of talented artists, which the Yukon Prize celebrates and spotlights. Yukon artists are very collaborative, and Aubyn O’Grady’s work which focuses on community building and engagement is a great example of this. Our warmest congratulations to Aubyn!”
– Julie Jai, Co-founder, Yukon Prize

“One of our goals is for Yukon artists to gain the national and international recognition they deserve. We want to help place Yukon art firmly into the national dialogue about art and increase awareness of the exceptional talent of Yukon artists. Each year we learn about new artists, and it’s an honour to be able to share their work more widely.”
– David Trick, Co-founder, Yukon Prize

“It is truly an honour to have been part of the Yukon Prize jury for 2025. The window that has been provided into the full breadth of creative talent defining the Yukon today through this experience has been invaluable. Thank you to all the artists and the community for your openness, generosity, and, above all, remarkable work!”
– Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives, National Gallery of Canada

“I have had the privilege of visiting the Yukon often over the last few years, and each time I return I feel so lucky to meet new artists and learn about new practices. The innovation and resourcefulness of artists in the Yukon is always inspiring. They have the most beautiful and bountiful land at their doorsteps, and it shows up in their artistic expressions, be it through inspired beadwork, compelling soundscapes, installation art, or landscape depictions.”
– Dr. Heather Igloliorte, Professor of Visual Arts, University of Victoria

“The honour of serving as a member of the jury has afforded me a special access to the extraordinary community of artists and arts supporters in Yukon. The Yukon art prize shines a bright light on the work of those artists, providing a critical forum for expanded conversations about art, professional practice and broad creative networking opportunities. I feel fortunate to have new insight into the vibrant, resilient, and deeply connected arts community in the Yukon and am excited to continue these connections”
– Sarah Moore Fillmore, CEO of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

Contact
Julie Jai, co-founder
416.553.3315
julie.jai@gmail.com

David Trick, co-founder
416.702.2737
david.trick@gmail.com

www.yukonprize.ca
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Facebook @yukonprize