Since 1991, the Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation has presented the Strathbutler Award to honor New Brunswick artists who have achieved personal excellence in any discipline of visual arts, while having had a distinctive impact on the cultural life of our province. Based on the unanimous recommendation of a professional, independent jury, interdisciplinary artist, Mathieu Léger is the 2021 recipient of the Strathbutler Award.
The jury characterized Léger as an internationally recognized conceptualist and minimalist, whose performances and interactions with his many and diverse audiences invite viewers to a deeper understanding of personal and collective identity. He mines history, science, and poetics to chart an informed and contemporary response to life’s journeys. Léger has demonstrated leadership through decades of work with IMAGO, l’Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF), Galerie Sans Nom, CARFAC Maritimes and the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. The vast scope of his ambulatory art practice coupled with his commitment to engaging New Brunswick audiences in performance art has made a significant contribution to the cultural ecosystem of the province.
The Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation is indebted to the work of the five members of the 2021 jury for their professional examination of all nomination packages. Shannon Webb-Campbell, Editor Visual Art News; Erik Edson, Professor, Pierre Lassonde School of Fine Arts Mount Allison University; Julie Forgues, Directrice, Départment des arts visuels ,Université de Moncton, James Mullinger, Editor Maritime Edit; Thomas Smart, Director/CEO Beaverbrook Art Gallery.