Barry Pottle, Along the Landwash, 2022, digital photograph, 51 x 61 cm, courtesy of the artist

2026 Karsh Continuum honours the artistic legacy of Yousuf and Malak Karsh while continuing an intergenerational chain of mentorship that fosters photo/lens-based innovation. 2023 Karsh Award laureate Christine Fitzgerald selected local artists Angelina Barrucco, Barry Pottle and Laura Taler for this unique exhibition opportunity: “Each of these three talented artists demonstrates a passion for creative experimentation, careful consideration to and reflection on our contemporary world, and an unwavering commitment to artistic excellence and innovation. These artists push the boundaries of photo/lens-based media by creating enduring and compelling work with remarkable visual refinement, elegance and complexity.”

Barry Pottle: When I started doing photography, the concept of Urban Inuit was relatively new and mostly unexplored compared to other Urban Indigenous groups in Canada. I have tried to give a voice to my subject and to ground it in reality. I use photography to explore cultural, social and political themes that affect Inuit (including me) living in an urban setting. Originally from Nunatsiavut (Labrador), I now live in Ottawa, which has the largest urban Inuit population outside of the North. I try to stay connected with my community as much as possible. Whether at a community event, cultural gathering, family outing or in the solitude of nature, I capture the essence of Inuit life in the Ottawa Valley and beyond.