Nico Williams' incredible sculptures are made from thousands of beads — and weeks of hand-cramping work

Nico Williams fell in love with glass beads the very first time he walked into a bead shop. The Anishinaabe artist from Aamjiwnaang First Nation calls the tiny, colourful rounds "one of the most beautiful materials on the planet."

Recognized for his sculptural beadwork, Williams, who's based in Montreal, is currently competing for the $100,000 Sobey Art Award — Canada's richest art prize — as the short list nominee selected to represent Quebec. 

The artist started beading full time about 10 years ago. He began by decorating surfaces with images and patterns. Then, as his practice evolved, he learned to use the form to create three-dimensional sculptures, often replicating everyday objects to scale.

At the National Gallery of Canada's Sobey Art Award exhibition, for example, Williams presents a bush jacket, a safety barrier and a roll of caution tape, each painstakingly made from thousands upon thousands of beads — and hundreds if not thousands of hours of work.   

To get to know the six finalists from across Canada contending for the Sobey Art Award, CBC Arts sent a questionnaire to each artist. Read on to learn about Williams' last "real" job, the bead artists who inspire him and how his studio team makes such dazzling and detailed artworks possible. 

The winner of the 2024 Sobey Art Award will be announced on Nov. 9. You can find all of our 2024 Sobey Art Award coverage here. 

When did you know you'd be an artist?

Visual art has always been something really special to me. I was even fighting my parents about it when I was kid. My mom really wanted me to be a writer, but I wouldn't stop making art. At the age of 16, I left home and eventually ended up enrolling into an intense art high school in southwestern Ontario. We had to buy our own materials, so I picked up a job at Music World selling CDs to buy art supplies. This was, like, during one of the three past economic crashes ... times were tough, but making art made me feel good. 

What does art allow you to do?

There's an excitement to be able to create amazing things. Really, the best part is all the behind-the-scenes stuff. I get to work alongside very exciting people and meet people who have had tremendous impacts on the world. There's this narrative of the poor artist.  Turns out there's tons of support for artists in this country and I got to build such rich friendships. These friendships are something that brings such joy to me on this journey.

Is there a question, inquiry or investigation central to your art practice? What is it?

Giving a new visual language to beadwork, and getting to work with one of the most beautiful materials on the planet: shiny, colourful glass beads.

Why do you practise the discipline you do? Or, why do you use the materials you do? What is their significance?

Indigenous people adopted beads from the colonizer and turned them into something the world had never seen before. I guess I am just carrying on the work our ancestors did by shifting the practice of beadwork in new directions. 

How does place influence your art?

My neighbourhood, Hochelaga, in Montréal is one of the coolest spots on the whole island! The buildings there are older than the founding of this country. I have a strong group of urban NDN friends there and the vibe of Hoche is amazing.

To work best, what do you absolutely need

My studio team. I used to work alone. I beaded a work made using over 50,000 glass beads in a period of three weeks. I worked so hard my hands would cramp, so I would sleep with hand braces. My studio brings some of the most talented artists from across the country to work alongside me.

What was the most impactful work of art — in any medium — you experienced this past year? 

It's not the most impactful work that inspires me; it's my artistic friends who are giving a whole new language to beads as a material practice that is the most impactful on my work: Catherine Blackburn, Renée Condo, Jean Marshall, Nadia Myre, Audie Murray, Jobena Petonoquot and, of course, Samwell Guertin, who has been involved in my practice since the beginning. 

If you weren't an artist, what would you like to do for work?

My last "real" job was seven years ago, back in 2017. I was a cook at the Men's Mission in London, Ont. Cooking food for the unhoused gave me happiness and value in hard work. Some of the clients were bummed out to see me go because I would always give them extra portions. On my last day working that job, I told them I was going to work on art forever.

Can you tell us about the artwork you're showing at the National Gallery of Canada for the Sobey Art Award exhibition?

You are seeing some work that would have taken me years to make if I couldn't have hired my truly amazing and wonderful team.

How does it exemplify your practice?

This showcases some of the best works that have come out of our studio. I'm extremely proud and honoured to have my work presented in the Sobey Art Award exhibition and in such an important institution as the National Gallery of Canada. Go see this year's Sobey Art Award show for yourself and get ready to be blown away. 

The winner of the 2024 Sobey Art Award will be announced on Nov. 9 in Ottawa. The Sobey Art Award exhibition continues at the National Gallery of Canada through April 6, 2025.