Photo: Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, 2025 Polygon First Nations Art Award of Distinction
In 2025, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun of Cowichan (Hul’q’umi’num Coast Salish) and Okanagan (Syilx) descent, was honoured by BC Achievement with the Polygon First Nations Art Award of Distinction in recognition of his outstanding contribution to contemporary First Nations art.
For over four decades, Lawrence has used painting, installation, and performance to challenge colonial narratives, confront systemic injustices, and assert Indigenous sovereignty. His work is both politically charged and artistically groundbreaking—often combining traditional Coast Salish aesthetics with surrealist and pop art influences to powerful effect. His art reshapes how Indigenous identity, memory, and resistance are expressed. Recently, the BC Achievement team visited Lawrence in his studio, where he shared his latest artistic explorations and shared the inspirations that continue to drive his practice.
A New Work in Progress: Nighttime Okanagan Memories
At the centre of his studio stands a massive, yet-to-be-named canvas that Lawrence is currently painting. Drawing on memories of the Okanagan, this piece evokes a nighttime landscape where trees slowly emerge from darkness, copper shields appear in the foreground, and ovoid forms recur throughout the composition.
Rather than simply depicting a literal scene, the painting feels like a meditation on place, memory, and the emotional resonance of land that is deeply familiar yet constantly shifting.
Photo: Rup Grewal, Program Director, Polygon First Nations Art Award
Karen: A Powerful Cultural Statement
Alongside this new work, Lawrence recently completed a provocative piece titled Karen, which marks a departure from his signature visual language. The work confronts the cultural figure of the “Karen” — individuals who vocally claim unfairness while opposing minority rights and benefitting from the self-evident advantages of white privilege.
With Karen, Lawrence uses art to challenge dominant cultural narratives and prompt reflection on how privilege and resistance intersect in contemporary society.
New Exhibition: Floor Opener in Kelowna
This season, Lawrence’s work takes on public life in a new way with a solo exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery. Titled Floor Opener, the show runs from January 24 to May 31, 2026.
Floor Opener brings together bold, uncompromising works that confront colonial suppression, environmental degradation, and Indigenous sovereignty. Named for a ceremonial role that invites presence and shared knowledge into a gathering, the exhibition itself functions as an invitation to engage deeply with history, place, and the ongoing social realities Indigenous peoples continue to navigate.
Art That Matters Now
On the horizon, Lawrence is also beginning work on a large painting that will address the fentanyl crisis — a work that promises to carry the same urgency, empathy, and Indigenous perspective that has defined his art for decades.
Whether in his studio or on the walls of a gallery, Lawrence Paul’s work remains rooted in community, history, and the pressing social issues of our time. It is a testament to the power of contemporary Indigenous art to influence, challenge, and inspire. It serves as evidence of his status as one of BC’s most outspoken and influential contemporary First Nations artists.
BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.
