Mark of a Nation

Composition 0331
2025
Wood panel, canvas, acrylic paint, ChromaLife100+ ink, paper, Canadian Postage Stamps
36 inches diameter
Approximately 3,408  paper pieces 

The concentric circles of Mark of a Nation, Composition 0331 by Lesley Luce explore Canada’s evolving sovereignty through the lens of its postal history. This layered composition draws on stamps spanning from pre-Confederation to the present day—including designs commemorating the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Trans-Canada Highway, the Constitution Act of 1982, 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 continually redefines—itself. The concentric format echoes the repeated use of stamps as markers of official record and sovereignty, while the layered imagery highlights the enduring presence of Canada’s past.

From a distance, 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 paper fragments, the work invites viewers to reflect on the resilience, complexity, and evolving narrative of Canada’s independence.