TORONTO, May 9, 2017 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today named Shelley Niro as the winner of the seventh annual Scotiabank Photography Award at the Scotiabank Photography Award Gala Reception at the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto.

"Shelley's art provides us with an enriched view on contemporary Indigenous life and connects us with a better understanding of these communities," said Edward Burtynsky, Chair of the Scotiabank Photography Award jury and internationally renowned Canadian photo artist. "With such a passion for storytelling, we look forward to collaborating with Shelley to create a stunning book and what we know will be an inspiring primary exhibition at the 2018 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival."

The prestigious Scotiabank Photography Award includes a $50,000 cash prize, a solo Primary Exhibition at the Ryerson Image Centre during the 2018 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, and a book of the winner's work to be published and distributed worldwide by renowned art book publisher, Gerhard Steidl.

"Shelley Niro's work demonstrates again the powerful way that photography helps people connect with a moment in time," said Barb Mason, Group Head & Chief Human Resources Officer. "On behalf of my colleagues, I am delighted to congratulate Shelley Niro on being named the winner of the 2017 Scotiabank Photography Award. Scotiabank has a long history and a deep passion for supporting arts, culture, and heritage in communities across Canada and we are proud to play a role in celebrating the creative vision and accomplishments of this gifted photographer."

Shelley Niro joins an exclusive group of artists who have been honoured with the Scotiabank Photography Award that includes Suzy Lake (2016), Angela Grauerholz (2015), Mark Ruwedel (2014), Stan Douglas (2013), Arnaud Maggs (2012) and Lynne Cohen (2011).

Shelley Niro is a multi-media artist, whose work involves photography, painting, beadwork and film. Niro is conscious of the impact post-colonial mediums have had on Indigenous people. Like many artists from different Native communities, she works relentlessly presenting people in realistic and explorative portrayals. Shelley graduated from the Ontario College of Art, Honours and received her Master of Fine Art from the University of Western Ontario.Niro was the inaugural recipient of the Aboriginal Arts Award presented through the Ontario Arts Council in 2012 and a 2017 winner of the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts.  Shelley Niro was born in Niagara Falls, NY and currently lives in Brantford Ontario. Niro is a member of the Six Nations Reserve, Bay of Quinte Kanien'kehaka (Mohawk) Nation, Turtle Clan.

The Scotiabank Photography Award was founded in 2010 with Edward Burtynsky to celebrate the creative vision and accomplishments of some of our country's most gifted photographers. It is Canada's largest and most prestigious annual peer-nominated and peer-reviewed award that recognizes the achievements of an established mid to later career artist and strives to accelerate their career as he or she reaches for the next level of national and international recognition.

Shelley Niro was selected from a group of three finalists, which also included Raymonde April and Donigan Cumming, by a jury composed of pre-eminent ‎members of the Canadian arts community. The two shortlisted artists receive cash prizes of $10,000 each. Members of the 2017 jury included:

• Robert Enright, Professor and University Research Chair in Art Theory and Criticism, University of Guelph, Ontario, Senior Contributing Editor Border Crossings Magazine
• Marie J. Jean, Executive and Artistic Director, VOX centre de l'image contemporaine
• Mark Lewis, Artist

2016 Scotiabank Photography Award winner, Suzy Lake, has a solo Primary Exhibition at the Ryerson Image Centre during the 2017 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival and beyond, open to the public free of charge, from April 28 to August 13, 2017.

For more information about the Scotiabank Photography Award winner, finalists and jury, please visit the website at www.scotiabank.com/photoaward

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 88,000 employees and assets of $887 billion (as at January 31, 2017), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

SOURCE Scotiabank