Ilka Bauer wins international Paper on Skin competition

Oak Bay artist Ilka Bauer has won the top award at the 2026 Paper on Skin international competition held in Tasmania. Bauer was one of 31 finalists from nine countries selected for the biennial contest, which requires participants to create wearable garments composed of at least 80 per cent paper.

Her winning piece, titled ‘Ancestral Memory’, is a bodice and headpiece set constructed from various types of paper and matboard offcuts. The work utilizes techniques including paper spinning, weaving, and botanical printing to explore themes of natural history, pagan European cultures, and the connection between biology and art.

Bauer, a German Canadian artist, draws on her background in biology and environmental policy to inform her practice. Her work sits at the intersection of sculpture and fibre art, often addressing questions regarding the environment, identity, and governance.