Who will win this year’s Sobey Art Award? The list is full of strong contenders including the hot photographer Scott McFarland, the excellent Paul Butler and Theo Sims, Luis Jacob, Raphaelle de Groot and the fun, funny art collective BGL.

While choosing among the contenders is tough, VoCA has chosen one artist from each region who we feel are deserving of the Sobey, regardless of whether they win this year or not.

For more on the Sobey Art Award, please click HERE.

WEST COAST AND YUKON: Althea Thauberger; Tim Lee; Scott McFarland; Mark Soo; Kevin Schmidt.
VoCA PICK: TIM LEE

Tim Lee, My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) / Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black), Neil Young, 1979. Image: hustlerofculture.com

Tim Lee shows with Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver.

(The above piece is reminiscent of London-based Canadian artist Mark Lewis’ excellent film, Rush Hour. Click HERE for Mark Lewis’ website.)

PRAIRIES AND THE NORTH: Daniel Barrow; Paul Butler; Theo Sims; KC Adams; Terrance Houle.
VoCA PICK: DANIEL BARROW

Daniel Barrow, Every Time I See Your Picture I Cry (performance), 2006.
Image: aceart.org

ONTARIO: Kristan Horton; Luis Jacob; Terence Koh; H. Lan Thao Lam; Kelly Richardson.
VoCA PICK: KRISTAN HORTON

Kristan Horton, Broadcast, 2007. Imge: jessicabradleyartprojects.com

Kristan Horton shows with Jessica Bradley Art + Projects, Toronto.

QUÉBEC: Mathieu Beauséjour; BGL; Raphaëlle de Groot; Adad Hannah; Carlos and Jason Sanchez.
VoCA PICK: ADAD HANNAH

Adad Hannah, Internal Logic: Camping, 2006. Performance at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Image: coolhunting.com

Adad Hannah shows with Pierre Francois Ouellette Art Contemporain, Montreal.

ATLANTIC: Andrea Mortson; Tonia Di Risio; Craig Francis Power; Mario Doucette; Craig Leonard.
VoCA PICK: CRAIG FRANCIS POWER
For information on last year’s winner, Michel de Broin, please click HERE and for VoCA’s interview with him, click HERE.

Michel de Broin, Silence Shouts, 2008. Image: micheldebroin.com

The $50,000 Sobey Art Award, presented by Scotiabank, is given annually to a Canadian artist under 40 who has exhibited in a public or commercial art gallery within 18 months of being nominated.

Stay tuned for the names of shortlisted artists on May 20.