Journal Entry Nov 8 2024, 2024 by Gordon Boyd, glass artist and the winner of this year’s  RBC Award for Glass 2025. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The RBC Award for Glass 2025 goes to Gordon Boyd, a rising star in contemporary glassmaking. This is Canada’s only national award for emerging glass artists

BY ARTCENTRON NEWS

ONTARIO,  CANADA– The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery has announced that Gordon Boyd of Oakville, Ontario, is the winner of the RBC Award for Glass 2025. This highly coveted prize, which is Canada’s only national award for emerging glass artists, includes a $10,000 prize. This is a significant investment in Boyd’s evolving career as one of the country’s most promising voices in Canadian contemporary glass art.

The award presentation takes place on Sunday at a public reception of the exhibition celebrating this year’s winner and distinguished finalists. Held at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario, the event is open to the public and is expected to draw artists, collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts from across the country.

Honoring Canadian Contemporary Glass Artists

The RBC Award for Glass is a partnership with The RBC Foundation. It is a prestigious honor that shines a national spotlight on emerging talent in Canadian contemporary glass art. Now in its annual celebration, the award continues to be a career-launching platform that validates artistic excellence, technical innovation, and conceptual strength in glass as an expressive medium.

This year’s award cycle was met with an exceptional number of applications from coast to coast. The interest in the competition reinforces the vibrancy and depth of Canada’s glass art community. The RBC Award for Glass 2025 edition brought attention to the next generation of visionary Canadian contemporary glass art creators, with each submission presenting an authentic exploration of materiality, identity, and form.

Gordon Boyd: RBC Award for Glass 2025 Winner

Gordon Boyd is the 2025 recipient. He is a glass artist whose work navigates the threshold of technical mastery and emotional resonance. Boyd’s artistic practice and innovative use of kiln-formed and blown glass distinguished him from his peers.  He engages themes of memory, fragility, and transformation. His installations frequently incorporate light, shadow, and movement, creating immersive environments that challenge conventional narratives in glassmaking.

This award comes at a pivotal moment in Boyd’s career. It offers critical support for his next body of work and enables further experimentation with scale, structure, and conceptual depth. His dedication to pushing the boundaries of Canadian contemporary glass art has positioned him as a leading voice in the field, both nationally and internationally.

Celebrating the 2025 Runner-Up and Finalists

In addition to Boyd’s victory, the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery celebrates the remarkable achievements of the 2025 runner-up and finalists, whose collective contributions represent the diversity and innovation within Canada’s vibrant glass art scene.

Runner-Up: Nadira Narine (Toronto, ON)

• Narine receives a $5,000 prize in recognition of her powerful, narrative-driven glass works. Her practice integrates traditional glassblowing with mixed media and storytelling, often reflecting on themes of diaspora, femininity, and ancestral heritage.

Finalists:

• Samwell Guertin (Montréal, QC): Guertin’s work challenges the limits of hot glass sculpture, blending industrial aesthetics with organic forms.
• Em McDonald (Oakville, ON): McDonald explores the psychological and spatial impact of translucent surfaces through architectural installations.
• Jérémie St-Onge (Montréal, QC): St-Onge is famous for combining digital technology and traditional glass techniques, creating futuristic, hybrid art forms.

Each finalist receives a $1,000 award to support the continuation of their artistic journey and studio practice, highlighting the broad support for Canadian contemporary glass art talent.

A Rigorous and Inspiring Jury Process

The selection of this year’s award recipients was done by an esteemed panel of jurors. The list included Benjamin Kikkert, Cheryl Wilson-Smith, and Franklin Silverstone—each a respected figure in the world of glass art and curation.

In a joint statement, the jury was thrilled by the exceptional quality and impressive number of applicants for the RBC Award for Glass 2025. “Artists from across the country were well represented, making the decision an especially difficult one. We are truly grateful to have had the opportunity to view such outstanding work and deeply appreciate the time and effort each applicant put into their submissions.”

The jurying process involved a careful review of each applicant’s technical skill, conceptual clarity, originality, and potential for artistic growth.

RBC Award for Glass 2025 Exhibition

To celebrate the achievements of the winner, runner-up, and finalists, the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is hosting an exhibition of their works.  It runs through January 11, 2026. This showcase features a diverse range of glass art practices. It provides the public a rare opportunity to witness the cutting edge of Canadian contemporary glass art.

The exhibition features a combination of sculpture, installation, and experimental design. It invites viewers to engage with the material possibilities of glass as a medium for storytelling, experimentation, and cultural critique.

About the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery

The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is a vital institution in the landscape of Canadian contemporary glass art. Located in Waterloo, Ontario, the gallery is both a regional cultural hub and an internationally respected exhibition space. With a focus on contemporary ceramic, glass, and enamel art, it has become a center for education, appreciation, and critical discourse.

Founded on the principles of artistic excellence and public engagement, the gallery presents critically acclaimed exhibitions. Additionally, it hosts workshops, artist talks, and youth education programs. These initiatives cultivate public understanding of craft and design. They empower a wide range of audiences to engage meaningfully with contemporary art. The gallery also supports emerging and mid-career artists by providing professional development opportunities. It also provides exhibition platforms that expand the reach of artists, providing them with the necessary visibility.

The RBC Foundation has long been a patron of the Canadian arts community. It supports initiatives that uplift and advance the careers of emerging artists across disciplines. Through its financial support, RBC works to eliminate financial barriers that could impede artistic innovation and growth. Their sustained partnership with the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is a testament to their belief in the evolving nature of the arts.  That understanding also highlights the importance of nurturing talent at a foundational stage.

Celebrate Canadian Contemporary Glass Art

The official awards reception and exhibition of the RBC Award for Glass 2025 took place on Sunday at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery. Attendees got the opportunity to meet the artists and view their extraordinary works.  They will also get to experience firsthand the richness of Canada’s contemporary glass art landscape. This exhibition is a moment of recognition, celebration, and community.  It will continue to cement Canada’s place as a global leader in the field.