Mark of a Nation

Composition 0701 Private Commission
2025
Wood panel, canvas, acrylic paint, ChromaLife100+ ink, paper, and postage stamps from the artist’s and patron’s personal collections
21 inches diameter
Approximately 1,848  paper pieces 

The concentric circles of Mark of a Nation, Composition 0701 by Lesley Luce, explore Canada’s evolving sovereignty through the lens of its postal history. This layered composition features stamps spanning from pre-Confederation to the present day, including designs that commemorate the Trans-Canada Highway, Parliament Hill, and the ongoing movement toward truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

Together, these micro-artifacts form a visual portrait of how a nation defines—and redefines—itself over time. The circular format echoes the repeated use of stamps as markers of official record and sovereignty, while the layered imagery reveals the enduring presence of Canada’s past.

From afar, Mark of a Nation appears as a bold, structured abstraction. Up close, its intricate details reveal a dense archive of national symbolism and shifting identity. Through the precise placement of these fragments, the work invites viewers to reflect on the resilience, complexity, and evolving story of Canadian independence.