Shaun Downey wins the 2023 Kingston Prize portrait competition

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Shaun Downey, “Near the Elevator,” 2023

oil on canvas wrapped panel, 40" x 30"

Shaun Downey of Toronto is the 2023 winner of the Kingston Prize, Canada’s national portrait competition. Downey was awarded $20,000 for his portrait, Near the Elevator, showing a pensive woman sitting alone in a chair.

Honourable mentions, valued at $3,000 each, were awarded to Chrystal Phan of Victoria and Jim Bravo of Toronto. There were 30 finalists in the painting competition. An exhibition of their work continues until Oct. 27 in the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque, Ont.

The three jurors for the competition issued a statement praising Downey’s work: “We were drawn in to this work by both the technical mastery and the subtlety of the expression of the sitter. We appreciated the contrast between the simple, geometrical interior in which the young woman sits in an office chair, and her delicate facial expression and the tension in her arms and hands.”

Jason Donville, incoming chair of the Kingston Prize board, said the nominated artists represent everything that is good and special in Canadian art. “They are our Caravaggios and our Cassatts. Their art defines the soul of our nation in beautiful pictures that capture the incredible strength and diversity of our nation. We are blessed tonight to be amongst such talented and wonderful painters. All 30 of the nominees are winners in our hearts.” 

Source: The Kingston Prize