Appointment of the First Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate

For Immediate Release
Ottawa, Ontario
October 6, 2026

The Honourable Raymonde Gagné, C.M., O.M., Speaker of the Senate, and the Honourable Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, announced today the appointment of Paul Wong as the first Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate for a two-year term beginning on September 1, 2026.

This new role was established through a 2024 amendment to the Parliament of Canada Act. The mandate of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureat is to promote the arts in Canada, through Parliament, including by fostering knowledge, enjoyment, awareness and development of the arts.

Residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Paul Wong is a pioneering Canadian artist known for his innovative contributions to visual and media art. During a careering of spanning more than 5 decades, his artistic practice has encompassed film, video, sound, photography, installation, sculpture, printmaking, neon art, performance, and writing. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts, and the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts.

The steward for the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate Program, the Library of Parliament supports the Artist Laureate over the course of their term by assisting with the planning, coordination and delivery of their programming initiatives. It also offers an annual stipend of a budget for travel, programming and administrative expenses.

Quotes

“Visual art invites us to look at familiar realities in new ways and to consider perspectives different from our own. Paul Wong approaches his work with curiosity, a spirit of dialogue and a commitment to exploring diverse experiences. His distinct vision and decades of contributions to Canada’s visual arts community will bring an important perspective to this inaugural role.”
– The Honourable Raymonde Gagné, Speaker of the Senate

“Paul Wong Has built an extraordinary career across many facets of the visual arts, from creating and exhibiting his own work to curating, writing and producing. His longstanding commitment to building community, supporting artists and creating opportunities for connection will bring a dynamic and multidisciplinary creative voice to the role of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate.”
– The Honourable Francis Scarpaleggia, Speaker of the House of Commons

“I’m excited by the opportunity to help trailblaze this new role and to imagine what a Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate can be. In many ways, it feels like being handed a blank roll of film: the possibilities are wide open, and it will be up to me to discover how to turn it into something meaningful. I will look forward to experimenting, creating and finding new ways to connect with the visual arts with Parliament and Canadians.”
– Paul Wong, First Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate

Quick Facts

• The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate was selected following an open nomination process.
• The position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate was created in 2024.
• The Library of Parliament is the steward of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate Program.
• To ensure that Canada’s official languages are equitably represented, appointments to the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate alternate between an artist who works primarily in English and an artist who works primarily in French. Paul Wong will work primarily in English.

Associated Links
• Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate website
• Paul Wong Biography

About the Library of Parliament
The Library creates, manages, and delivers authoritative, reliable and relevant information and knowledge for and about Parliament.

Inquiries
Meredith Savka
Senior Director, Public Outreach and Communications
meredith.savka@parl.gc.ca
343-571-9330