The Prix Lynne-Cohen: 
Supporting 
and Promoting 
the Next 
Generation of 
Photographers

The Prix Lynne-Cohen, awarded every two years since 2017, is a prestigious springboard for up-and-coming artists whose work is centred on photography. It stems from a partnership between the Lynne Cohen estate, the MNBAQ, and its Foundation, and aims to support the next generation of visual artists. The winning artist receives a $10,000 grant and a unique opportunity to have their work highlighted through a video portrait produced by the MNBAQ. The video, which is published on all of the Musée’s platforms, increases the artist’s exposure and introduces a large audience to a new creative practice.

Lynne Cohen (1944–2014) was an icon of Canadian photography known for her stark, conceptual images that explored the privacy of enclosed spaces, generally devoid of human presence.  

She provided keen insight into places that are often forgotten or hidden from view, like scientific laboratories, classrooms, military installations, and complex locations that are often difficult to access.  

Lynne Cohen used a documentary approach to question the function, meaning, and spirit of these places while offering a profound contemplation on solitude, absence, and the relationship between humans and their material environment. Her art encourages a broader exploration of the world around us.

    • Œuvre de Lynne Cohen, Établissement Thermal, 1994.

She devoted her life to her art, exhibiting extensively, and received numerous awards for her outstanding contribution to contemporary photography, including a Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts and the Scotiabank Photography Award. Her work has been exhibited around the world, solidifying her place in the pantheon of great photographers. But beyond her remarkable career, Lynne Cohen was also a fervent advocate of teaching and passing on her knowledge, a passion she shared with her students and the artistic community.  

It is in this spirit that the Fondation Lynne Cohen, headed by her husband Andrew Lugg, continues her legacy.

Since it was created, the Prix Lynne-Cohen has honoured several outstanding artists: Maryse Goudreau (2017), Jinyoung Kim (2019), and Leila Zelli (2023). Each artist has demonstrated a bold, original vision through their photography.

    • Laurence Hervieux-Gosselin, winner of the Lynne Cohen Prize (2021)
    • Jinyoung Kim, lauréate du prix Lynne Cohen (2019).
    • Maryse Goudreau, winner of the Lynne Cohen Prize (2017)

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