Tlingit artist Megan Jensen longlisted for prestigious Sobey Art Award

Art is a sacred practice for Megan Jensen. Jensen, who is Tlingit and a Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen and lives in Whitehorse, is perhaps best known for her formline art. Much of her work focuses on personal stories – stories she tells with paintbrush and canvas in the traditional artform of her people. “When I’m painting, or I’m drawing, I just feel so connected with a past, with the voices of my ancestors,” she told APTN News. And her talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. Jensen was recently long-listed for the Sobey Art Award. ‘I just I felt really confirmed by whatever forces in the world, like the Creator and the universe,’ says Jensen when learning she had been longlisted for the Sobey Art Award. Photo: Jordan Haslbeck/APTN. The prestigious award celebrates excellence in Canadian art and comes with a $100,000 grand prize. Jensen was nominated for the award by fellow Yukon-based artist Krystle Silverfox, who was shortlisted for the award herself in 2022. “I was having one of those days I was feeling just really tired and worried (about my art being sustainable) and then I got that email,” she said. “I just I felt really confirmed by whatever forces in the world, like the Creator and the universe, just reassuring me that, you know, this is hard, sometimes extremely difficult and the hardest thing you’ve ever done in your entire life, but you’re on the right path, and that means more than anything.” ‘Even the recognition is such an honor’ Gaslighter Chokes on Their Own Smoke painting by Megan Jensen. Jensen said many of her paintings are created while she’s processing her emotions. That includes a formline painting titled Gas Lighter Chokes on their Own Smoke, which tells her story of feeling victim to narcissism. The painting was part of her nomination submission for the award. “It dawned on me that I can’t just paint a narcissist, because that’s what they want. There needs to be something in the narrative that’s subverting it, and it’s playing with power dynamic, and it’s empowering,” she said. “It’s a fun painting, because people, when they first look at it, they tend to be like, ‘well, that’s so beautiful.’ And then people that know how to read form line, they’re like, ‘oh, that’s, like, pretty violent,’” she added. Jensen is also the artist behind the Consent is Sacred graphic design logo which she created in partnership with Black and White Raven Company, an Indigenous design and consulting company based in Juneau, Alaska. Jensen said shirts sporting the design sold “like wildfire.” “I had no idea that it would have the impact that it did,” she said. “Art is a very strong messenger.” Consent is Sacred piece by Megan Jensen. Shortlisted artists for the award will be announced next month and will receive $25,000, while remaining long-listed artists will receive $10,000. The winner of the award will be announced in November during a celebration at the National Gallery of Canada. Jensen said she’s not concerned with financial aspect of the award, but if she does win the grand prize, a portion will be allocated to health and wellness initiatives for her community. Whether she wins or not, she said she’s simply thrilled her work is being recognized on national scale. “Even the recognition is such an honor.” Continue Reading