Raphaëlle de Groot wins 2012 Sobey Art Award

November 16, 2012—TORONTO, ON —The Curatorial Panel for the 2012 Sobey Art Award has chosen Raphaëlle de Groot as the recipient of the $50,000 award. Raphaëlle de Groot represents the Québec region.

The announcement was made this evening during a gala event to celebrate the Award's 10th anniversary, held at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) and hosted by Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada.The Award was presented to the winning artist by the 2011 Sobey winners, Daniel Young and Christian Giroux.

The other shortlisted artists for this year's Award were:

• Gareth Moore - West Coast and Yukon;

• Jason de Haan - Prairies and the North;

• Derek Sullivan - Ontario;

• Eleanor King – Atlantic.

Each of these artists receives $5,000 in prize money from the Sobey Art Foundation.

In commenting on Raphaëlle de Groot's achievement, the curatorial committee said:

"Raphaëlle de Groot makes artwork in varied contexts, most often outside of the conventional art world. This process affords her the opportunity to meet people from different milieus, such as a community of nuns, workers at a textile factory, domestic workers, and students. Through her practice, we are called on to be active witnesses, intrigued by what we see, disturbed by what we discover of ourselves and by what is revealed to us in this encounter with art and the artist in the present. Her projects take the shape of actions, objects, images, and documentation. De Groot's practice explores and challenges ways in which art is created and received. Her work reinforces common values and shared human experiences."

The 2012 Sobey Art Award Curatorial Panel consists of:

• David Diviney, Curator of Exhibitions, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia;

• Louise Déry, Director, Galerie de l'UQAM, Université du Québec à Montréal;

• David Liss, Artistic Director and Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art;

• Ryan Doherty, Curator, Southern Alberta Art Gallery;

• Bruce Grenville, Senior Curator, Vancouver Art Gallery.

Since its inception, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia has organized and administered the Sobey Art Award and its accompanying exhibition. Every other year, the Award travels to a gallery or museum outside of Halifax.

The 2012 Sobey Art Award shortlist exhibition is on view at MOCCA until December 30, 2012.