Opening and prize ceremony : September 24, 2026, 6-9pm

Artist talk : October 3, 2026, 2-4pm

This year, La Centrale galerie Powerhouse is celebrating the tenth edition of the Prix Powerhouse, a landmark award that has recognized the commitment and work of Montreal artists since 2011. La Centrale is pleased to announce the 2026 winners, Lara Kramer and Diyar Mayil. Their work was selected by a jury of peers, which this year included curator Mojeanne Behzadi, curator and art critic Ariane De Blois, and artist Natacha Clitandre, winner of the 2024 Prix Powerhouse.

Lara Kramer and Diyar Mayil will participate in a joint exhibition this fall at La Centrale from September 24 to November 7, 2026. Join us for the awards ceremony and opening on September 24, followed by an artist talk on October 3, 2026.

The recipient artists will showcase new and previous works in the exhibition On a single thread. Woodwork, sculpture and archives come together to reflect on the transience and endurance of land and memories.

Lara Kramer

Photo : jailli / Charlotte Rainville

Lara Kramer is a performer, choreographer, and multidisciplinary artist of mixed Oji-Cree and settler heritage, raised in London, Ontario, and based in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal. For over twenty years, she has created a practice grounded in intergenerational knowledge and the impacts of the Indian Residential School system; she is the first generation in her family not to attend. Her experimental practice spans performance, choreography, sound, and installation, rooted in embodied experiences of memory, dreams, and reclamation. She holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance (2008) and an MFA from Concordia University (2024) and has presented her work nationally and internationally. 

Diyar Mayil

Photo : jailli / Charlotte Rainville

Diyar Mayil is an artist working in sculpture, installation and performance. She often works with the familiar to address issues of comfort, discomfort and the blurring of public and private contexts. She is the laureate for the Bronfman Fellowship in Contemporary Art (2022) and the recipient of the Liz Crockford Award (2023). Her work has been supported by Canada Council for the Arts, CALQ, Conseil des arts de Montréal and has recently been shown at Whitney ISP, Articule, Circa Art Actuel and Centre Clark. Upcoming commitments include a group exhibition at Oakville Galleries and residencies at Hospitalfield and Edinburgh Sculpture Centre. Her work has been written about in Cmag, Espace, Public Parking, Zérodeux, La Presse, and Vie des Arts. She holds a BFA and MFA from Concordia University. Originally from Istanbul, she now lives and works in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal.