2025-2026 AWARDS

This compelling work explores the movement and ephemerality of light through an expressive flying-figure motif, seamlessly integrating traditional mural aesthetics with contemporary mixed-media approaches. The composition is refined and rhythmic, supported by confident color choices. Demonstrating artistic sensitivity and creative potential beyond the artist’s age, the piece reflects a notably high level of accomplishment

This work uses music as a narrative force, transforming landscape into a fluid space of emotion and imagination. The artist demonstrates strong originality by merging Eastern imagery with a forward-looking visual language. Poetic yet conceptually driven, the piece reflects independent creative thinking and a distinctive personal voice.

This work presents a highly personal dreamscape through bold imagery and energetic visual language. Using vibrant color, dynamic forms, and fluid composition, the artist weaves imagination, emotion, and storytelling into a cohesive world. The piece demonstrates strong originality, confident creative thinking, and a distinctive artistic voice that stands out clearly.

Using digital media to layer multiple dimensions of time and space, this work forms a cohesive and thought-provoking visual narrative. Traditional cultural symbols are reimagined alongside technological imagery, demonstrating strong conceptual integration and originality. The piece reflects sophisticated creative thinking and a clear awareness of contemporary cultural dialogue, supported by confident visual decision-making.

This work assembles architectural forms from different periods into a unified cityscape that moves fluidly through time. With careful line work and strong structural organization, the artist transforms personal experiences of place and migration into a clear visual narrative. The piece demonstrates advanced spatial reasoning, historical awareness, and a confident, original approach to architectural storytelling.

This imaginative work gently bridges everyday creativity with an interstellar dreamscape. Through vibrant color, clear storytelling, and playful imagery, the artist creates a sincere and original fantasy world. The piece highlights strong imagination, narrative thinking, and a confident personal vision appropriate to the artist’s age.

This imaginative work transforms the tradition of sugar painting into a vivid and accessible visual narrative. Through personalized characters and a clear storytelling structure, the artist bridges past and present with originality and warmth. The piece demonstrates strong creative thinking, cultural awareness, and a confident ability to tell stories through images.

This work presents a poetic spring landscape through restrained and sensitive use of ink and color. Working within the tradition of Chinese landscape painting, the artist demonstrates a strong awareness of rhythm, negative space, and emotional atmosphere. The result is a calm yet living scene that reflects thoughtful interpretation and a genuine understanding of cultural aesthetics.

This painting conveys a quiet sense of companionship through a warm and restrained oil painting approach. With loose yet layered brushwork, the artist captures subtle shifts of light, atmosphere, and emotion within a natural setting. Beyond narrative, the work reflects strong observational skills, emotional sensitivity, and a sincere engagement with the painting process.

This work employs a restrained and delicate watercolor approach to create a quiet yet emotionally resonant space. The sunflowers appear gently suspended within light, mist, and intentional white space, allowing silence to speak as powerfully as form. With refined control and emotional sensitivity, the artist transforms the act of giving into a lasting, contemplative visual experience.

This work uses rich, warm colors to beautifully capture the quiet atmosphere of autumn. The composition is clear and well balanced, with thoughtful attention to animals and natural details. The piece demonstrates strong observational skills and sincere emotional expression, achieving a pleasing harmony between youthful imagination and cohesive visual storytelling.

This work uses soft, lyrical color to create a calm and dreamlike landscape. The composition is well balanced, with sensitive handling of foreground elements and reflections. Through gentle storytelling and sincere emotional tone, the piece transforms personal imagination into a cohesive visual narrative, demonstrating strong aesthetic awareness and expressive control.

This work employs a clear and confident perspective to create a strong sense of urban depth. The rhythm of architecture and roadway establishes a dynamic visual order, effectively conveying the pace and energy of city life. The composition reflects solid spatial understanding and mature observational skill.

This work employs fluid, rhythm-driven linework to unify figure, waves, and musical imagery into a cohesive visual flow. The drawing demonstrates strong control and consistency, creating a vivid sense of movement. It confidently bridges traditional aesthetic spirit with contemporary expression through disciplined and expressive linear language.

This piece captures the fleeting rhythm of movement through fluid and layered linear construction. The arrangement of multiple figures is balanced and cohesive, with lines shifting subtly in weight and density to suggest motion and breath. The work reflects a refined understanding of traditional figure drawing while confidently translating it into a contemporary visual language.

This work reimagines the cultural imagery of the Dragon Boat Festival through confident and highly controlled linework. Traditional symbols are woven into a dynamic, tightly composed structure, where rhythm and detail are carefully balanced. The piece successfully bridges cultural memory and contemporary visual language, offering a compelling and resonant interpretation of heritage.

This painting conveys a striking emotional intensity through expressive brushwork and bold contrasts. By fusing the human figure with the presence of the tiger, the artist creates a powerful dialogue between vulnerability and strength. The controlled use of color and dynamic composition demonstrates a confident command of symbolism and emotional storytelling.

This work presents a calm dialogue between the Toronto skyline and its waterfront through an open and balanced composition. The CN Tower anchors the scene, while the chairs and boats invite the viewer into a quiet, reflective moment. Thoughtful use of color and materials demonstrates careful attention to space and atmosphere.

With confident and rhythmic linework, this piece reinterprets the figure of Maitreya through a contemporary visual lens. The flowing cloud motifs and balanced composition create a sense of openness and calm, conveying joy, inclusiveness, and inner harmony. The work demonstrates a strong understanding of cultural imagery and refined control of linear expression.

​Yang Jia is recognized for her exceptional insight into art education and her sustained commitment to creative mentorship. Her teaching practice demonstrates a rare ability to integrate technical rigor, cultural awareness, and contemporary visual language into a coherent and inspiring pedagogical framework.

Through her guidance, students are encouraged not only to refine their skills, but to think critically, articulate personal perspectives, and develop independent artistic voices. The success of multiple young artists under her mentorship in this year’s competition is a clear reflection of her educational vision, intellectual generosity, and professional dedication.

Yang Jia’s work exemplifies the vital role of the art educator as both mentor and catalyst. Her thoughtful, responsible, and innovative approach has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the artistic development of emerging young artists.

This vibrant work presents an imaginative underwater adventure filled with narrative energy and visual richness. The composition is lively yet well-organized, supported by bold, expressive color choices. Demonstrating strong storytelling instincts and spatial awareness beyond the artist’s age, the piece reflects an exceptional sense of curiosity, creativity, and joyful exploration.

Focusing on a quiet corner of everyday life, this work transforms a personal study space into an intimate visual narrative. Through careful observation and thoughtful spatial organization, ordinary objects are given character and emotional presence. The piece reflects a genuine creative voice, demonstrating originality, sensitivity, and a mature approach to visual storytelling beyond the artist’s age.

Rendered entirely in black and white, this work employs intricate line work to construct a complex yet cohesive visual system. Drawing from Eastern mythological imagery, the artist transforms tradition into a contemporary exploration of coexistence, tension, and balance. The piece demonstrates strong originality, conceptual ambition, and a remarkable level of compositional and technical control. 

This work investigates mechanical form through spatial deconstruction and reorganization, resulting in a visually rigorous and dynamic system. With precise line work and a strong sense of structural logic, the artist explores perception and order within a technological context. The piece demonstrates original thinking, advanced spatial intelligence, and a confident, concept-driven approach to drawing.

This joyful work captures a beach scene through a sincere and playful child’s perspective. Bright colors, clear imagery, and a free, intuitive composition communicate happiness and imagination with authenticity. The piece reflects natural creativity and a positive, confident way of expressing personal experience. 

This cheerful work captures the joy of winter through a child’s lived experience, blending seasonal activities and festive moments into a lively scene. Bright colors and animated figures convey warmth, playfulness, and happiness. The piece reflects authentic expression, positive storytelling, and natural creativity appropriate to the artist’s age.

This lively work captures the energy and excitement of ice hockey while naturally connecting personal experience with Canadian cultural identity. Through bold color, clear action, and a festive atmosphere, the scene feels dynamic and engaging. The piece demonstrates strong storytelling, confident expression, and an authentic perspective appropriate to the artist’s age.

This concept-driven portrait places a realistic figure within a futuristic environment to explore identity and self-perception in a technological age. Through a segmented composition and restrained color palette, the artist develops a thoughtful and coherent visual language. The work demonstrates strong originality, conceptual clarity, and an emerging critical awareness beyond the artist’s age.

With a well-balanced composition and a strong sense of rhythm, this work gently draws viewers into the quiet waterways of Venice. Controlled watercolor layering and refined color choices convey warmth and atmosphere, while the relationship between architecture and water is handled with maturity. The piece transforms personal observation into an immersive and poetic visual journey.

Through disciplined yet imaginative linework, this piece creates a compelling dialogue between traditional Chinese opera imagery and contemporary visual language. The composition achieves a refined balance between structure and experimentation, demonstrating cultural awareness, originality, and a level of artistic maturity that significantly exceeds the artist’s age.

Through refined and rhythmic linework, this piece seamlessly weaves together music, dance, and auspicious cloud motifs. The composition is intricate yet well organized, with confident control of line and movement. It honors the spirit of Dunhuang art while revealing cultural insight and artistic maturity well beyond the artist’s age.

This work thoughtfully unites diverse Canadian landscapes into a coherent and well-structured composition. The artist demonstrates strong spatial awareness and a clear understanding of natural relationships. Color is used with restraint and purpose, supporting a readable visual narrative that reflects careful observation, originality, and confident creative thinking.

This work presents a poetic visual narrative through a refined blue-and-white palette, seamlessly blending traditional porcelain imagery with contemporary illustration. The composition is richly layered, with a clear relationship between figure, objects, and decorative elements. It reflects strong aesthetic sensitivity and a thoughtful understanding of Eastern cultural heritage.

This work presents a highly intricate yet well-organized linear composition, creating a powerful and immersive narrative space. Figures, clouds, and musical elements interact dynamically, generating strong rhythm and movement. The artist demonstrates impressive control of line density and a deep understanding of traditional cultural imagery, resulting in a confident and sophisticated visual expression.

This work challenges conventional spatial logic through a dynamic interplay of geometric structure and organic linework. The fluid qualities of Eastern motifs merge seamlessly with bold abstract forms, creating a rhythmic visual tension. The piece demonstrates a thoughtful engagement with cultural inheritance while confidently articulating a contemporary, cross-cultural aesthetic.

This work presents a tender still-life composition that transforms everyday childhood objects into a poetic visual narrative. Through refined color transitions and sensitive control of light, the artist achieves a strong sense of material presence and emotional warmth. The piece balances realism with introspection, creating a quietly powerful reflection on memory, comfort, and personal growth.

This work captures a joyful personal memory through bright colors and lively imagery. The leaping dolphins and warm sunset create a sense of movement and happiness, while the simple lines convey sincerity and emotional clarity. The piece reflects a genuine connection to nature and the artist’s desire to preserve a meaningful moment.

Through rhythmic linework and a poised use of color and negative space, this work translates the bodily language of Dunhuang art into a contemporary visual form. The figure moves between stillness and motion, creating a refined spatial balance. The piece reflects a thoughtful engagement with traditional imagery while expressing an emerging personal aesthetic.Top of FormBottom of Form

This painting captures a quiet yet powerful bond between the figure and the horse through expressive oil brushwork and warm tonal harmony. The balanced composition allows softness and strength to coexist, creating an intimate and composed atmosphere. The work demonstrates a mature sensitivity to form, light, and emotional connection, conveying calm confidence and inner resolve.

Jade Liang is recognized for her inclusive and forward-looking approach to art education, as well as her commitment to nurturing creativity within an international and multicultural context. Her teaching practice reflects a strong awareness of both local Canadian perspectives and broader global visual cultures.

Through her guidance, students are encouraged to draw from personal experience, cultural hybridity, and contemporary visual language to develop confident and articulate artistic voices. The strength of her students’ work demonstrates her ability to support independent thinking while fostering meaningful cross-cultural expression.

Jade Liang’s professionalism, creativity, and genuine care exemplify the role of the art educator as a facilitator of dialogue, innovation, and cultural connection. Her work has made a lasting and positive contribution to the artistic growth of young artists within diasporic and local communities.