Brian Jungen is an artist of Dane-zaa and European heritage from the Peace River area of northeastern B.C.Tyler Hagan/Supplied
Sculptor Brian Jungen has been named this year’s winner of the $100,000 Audain Prize, which recognizes a British Columbia artist of national and international standing.
Jungen, an artist of Dane-zaa and European heritage from the Peace River area of northeastern B.C. who lives in Moberly Lake, is recognized for his sculptures deconstructing consumer goods such as running shoes and golf bags and rebuilding them in forms that echo Indigenous masks, totems and drums.
More recently, he installed his first bronze sculpture, Couch Monster: Sadzěʔ yaaghęhch’ill, an elephant that appears to be made of leather sofas, outside the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. It was the last piece made in his Okanagan studio before wildfires destroyed the property in 2021.
“The impact of his art is undeniable,” said Michael Audain, the chair of the Audain Foundation, at a ceremony Friday in Vancouver. “Since the late nineties, Jungen has forged a name for himself internationally through his commanding sculptural practice. It is critical that we not only acknowledge the calibre of such accomplished artists but also continue to raise their profile here in British Columbia, in Canada and around the world.”
Brian Jungen is known for his sculptures that deconstruct consumer goods, such as running shoes.Gift of Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa/Photo courtesy of Catriona Jeffries/Supplied
The Audain, the richest visual art prize in the country along with the Sobey Art Award, is intended to bring national attention to senior B.C. artists and is presented by the Audain Art Museum in Whistler.
“I am grateful for all the exposure that I’ve had over the years, and to the people who have helped me along the way,” Jungen said in a statement accompanying the prize announcement. “The Audain Prize serves as another bridge between my sculptures and members of the public, sharing my work with new audiences and communities.”
Some past recipients include Rebecca Belmore, Dana Claxton, Ian Wallace, Stan Douglas, Fred Herzog, Takao Tanabe, Gathie Falk, Rodney Graham, Liz Magor, Jeff Wall and E.J. Hughes. Works by many of the recipients, including Jungen, will be shown at the Audain Art Museum in November.