Brian Jungen Wins 2025 Audain Prize
98Sept. 30, 2025
Canadian sculptor Brian Jungen, known for transforming contemporary mass-produced objects into traditional artifacts, has been named the winner of this year’s C$100,000 ($71,700)Audain Prize for the Visual Arts. Established in 2004 with the goal of elevating Canadian art both domestically and internationally, the prize is considered one of Canada’s most prestigious art honors. Jungen was presented with the honor at a September 26 ceremony in Vancouver.
“It is an honor to recognize Brian Jungen with the 2025 Audain Prize,” said Audain Foundation chair Michael Audain, who inaugurated the award, in a statement. “The impact of his art is undeniable. Since the late 90s, Jungen has forged a name for himself internationally through his commanding sculptural practice. It is critical that we not only acknowledge the caliber of such accomplished artists but also continue to raise their profile here in British Columbia, in Canada, and around the world.”
Born in Fort St. John, British Columbia, in 1970, Jungen is of Swiss and Dane-Zaa heritage. His work frequently refers to his Indigenous roots as well as to his experiences of Indigenous visual languages, gained while he lived and worked around British Columbia. Aiming to examine connections between the Indigenous and the non-Indigenous, and focusing on such themes as shelter, ritual, and survival, Jungen has variously repurposed Nike Air Jordan sneakers into Northwest Coast First Nations masks, jerry cans into fountains, and plastic lawn chairs into a whale skeleton.
“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,” said Jungen in a statement. “Being honored as the recipient of this year’s Audain Prize extends beyond acknowledging my accomplishments as an artist. The Audain Prize serves as another bridge between my sculptures and members of the public, sharing my work with new audiences and communities, across generations and throughout the globe.”