Winner Moyra Davey is flanked by Edward Burtynsky and Jacquie Ryan
Toronto-based photographer Moyra Davey has won the 2018 Scotiabank Photography Award, along with praise from one of Canada's top photographers, Edward Burtynsky.
"Moyra's art is absolutely outstanding," says Burtynsky, chair of the award jury. "Her lens shifts our eyes to unseen, ordinary and often-overlooked moments."
The award was founded in 2010 to recognize the achievements of mid- to late-career artists. It includes a $50,000 cash prize and a solo exhibition at the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto during the Contact Photography Festival. As well, a book of the winner's work will be published and distributed worldwide by Steidl, a leading art book publisher.
Previous winners include Suzy Lake (2016), Angela Grauerholz (2015), Mark Ruwedel (2014), Stan Douglas (2013), Arnaud Maggs (2012) and Lynne Cohen (2011).
Davey has built her repertoire over the last four decades, crossing between photography, videography and writing. For 10 years, she has transported her images through the mail, collecting stamps, kilometres of travel and fingerprints. Her work capturing New York newsstands highlights everyday objects and spaces. Different from the current trend of large-scale, digitally manipulated photographs, Davey's work demonstrates the photography of happenstance.
Greg Staats and Stephen Waddell were also finalists for this year's award. The two shortlisted artists each receive a cash prize of $10,000.
Along with Burtynsky, members of this year's jury were Candice Hopkins, a writer and curator, Marie-Josée Jean, artistic director of VOX Centre de l'image contemporaine, and artist Mark Lewis.
Work by last year's winner, Shelley Niro, is on display at the Ryerson Image Centre until Aug. 5.
Source: Scotiabank