Koomuatuk Curley

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Koomuatuk Curley

B. 1984
Kinngait, Nunavut

Koomuatuk (Kuzy) Curley is a sculptor, director and videographer from Kinngait, NU. Curley learned to carve from his grandparents during the summers he spent as a child at their outpost camp near Kinngait and began to carve professionally while in junior high school, becoming the third generation carver of his family. In 2014 Curley directed his film "Kiawak Ashoona" and has exhibited his work across Canada including being featured in iNuit Blanche in 2016, St. John’s, NL. Curley has written for and appeared in the "Inuit Art Quarterly" as well as many other publications.

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Kakee Ningeosiaq

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Kakee Ningeosiaq

 

Originally from Iqaluit, Kakee moved to Cape Dorset in 1993. He began carving at the age of 16 and although he is self-taught, he also learned by watching other carvers, which included His father, Ningeosiak Peter, and his mother, Parnee Peter. Kakee’s grandfather, the late Jamasie Teevee was a well-known graphic artist.

He is also known as Ningeeochiak, Peter

Exhibitions
1991   Inuit Music in Art: Singing & Dancing & Playing, Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto, ON
1995   Miniaturen, Inuit Galerie, Mannheim, Germany, (brochure)
1997   Stone & Bone, The Inuit Master Carvers of the Canadian Arctic, The North West Company, Sun Valley Center for the Arts &          Humanities Ketchum, ID
2010   Arctic Wind III: An Expression of Survival, Coastal Peoples Gallery, Vancouver, BC, (illustrated brochure)
2012   Small Treasures, Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC

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Andrew Palongayak

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Andrew Palongayak

B. 1946
Gjoa Haven

Andrew Palongayak is a stone and mixed-media sculptor from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut Territory. His wife, Ann Palongayak, and her brother, Ralph Porter, are also artists. Andy carves both animal and human figures, frequently depicting shamans and associated spirits. His carving evokes a sense of considerable strength and solidity.

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Markoosie Papigatok

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Markoosie Papigatok

B: 1976
Puvirnituq, QC

Markoosie Papigatok is a well recognized carver based in Kinngait, Nunavut. Papigatok was born in Puvirnituq Nunavuk, Quebec. He learned carving by observing those around him, including his grandfather, Qavaroak Tunnillie, and uncle, Ashevak Tunnillie.

Papigatok’s sculptures have been included in exhibitions throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. His work is continuously featured in the Canadian Art Gallery in Basel, Switzerland, and can be found in the public collections of the Musee d’art Inuit Brousseau in Quebec City, QC, and the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa, ON, among others.

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Nuna Parr

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Nuna Parr

Nuna was born near Cape Dorset and lived with his adoptive parents the graphic artists Parr and Eleeshushe. The family moved to Cape Dorset in 1960, after Parr was injured in an accident, and the young Nuna started carving while he was still in school. His interest in hunting and his regard for the animal life of the Arctic are directly reflected in his work. His rounded forms have great movement and a natural flow with the grain of the stone, as if both were made for each other. He has been carving for forty years, and his work continues to be shown nationally and internationally.

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Pavinak Petalaussie

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Pavinak Petalaussie

B. 1961

Pavinaq’s father, the late Aggeak Petaulassie (1983), was also a carver. His mother, Timangiak, and brothers Qatsiya and Etidlui are artists in Cape Dorset.

“My father used to tell me about carving…I like carving in stone because it is easier to work with.” Pavinaq began carving in the early 1970’s and prefers groupings of birds or walrus, “They are beautiful animals, that’s why.” From an interview with the Inuit Art Section, November, 1994.

Since 1984 the artist’s work has been shown in Vancouver, Toronto, Banff, and San Francisco.

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Palaya Qiatsuq

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Palaya Qiatsuq

B. 1965
Cape Dorset

Palaya learned how to carve the traditional way - by watching his father. He carved his first two pieces at the age of 12, a bird and a bear. For the past 20 years Palaya has been carving and keeping traditioal stories alive through his work. Stories of transformation and shmanism from his childhood are among Palaya's favourite themes. 

Although Palaya views himself as an artist above all else, he is also a "traditionalist with a mission." 

"I also see my mission as edicating and teaching others about my culture. Any opportunity I have to travel and give demonstrations and workshops helps contribute to others' apreciation of our art forms." - Palaya Qiatsuq

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Pauta Saila

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Pauta Saila

Kinngait, NU

1916 - 2009

An innovative carver known especially for developing the dancing bear sculptures, Pauta Saila remains one of the most recognized Inuit carvers to date. Born in Kilaparutua camp on Baffin Island in 1916, Saila learned by watching his father to live on the land as well as how to carve. He remained a hunter throughout his life, and focused his artistic endeavours solely to carving in 1981. Saila also drew images of arctic wildlife and his work was featured in the Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection from 1962-1981. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2003.

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Annie Pootoogook

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Annie Pootoogook

Annie Pootoogook was born in 1969 in Cape Dorset, Nunavut. She came from a long line of artists and began drawing in 1997. Annie’s drawings reflected her way of life as a contemporary female artist living and working in Canada’s far north. Ranging in expression from the apparently mundane and everyday to the personal and brutally intimate, Annie’s work is well known for her innovative and honest style. Her untimely passing in 2016 was a huge loss to the community of Cape Dorset and the new wave of contemporary Inuit art.
 
 

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Cee Pootoogook

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Cee Pootoogook

Cee Pootoogook

B: August 1, 1967

Cee Pootoogook is known for his depictions of day to day activities of community life as well as traditional subjects
and wildlife. Initially beginning a career in carving in the 1990s, Cee would later transition to stonecut printing before focusing his attention to drawing full time.

Cee is the eldest son of the late Napachie Pootoogook and Eegyvadluk Pootoogook, and older brother to the well known Cape Dorset contemporary artist, Annie Pootoogook.

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Ningiukulu Teevee

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Ningiukulu Teevee

Ningeokuluk Teevee
B. 1963
Cape Dorset

Since her first prints appeared in the collection in 2004, Ningeokuluk has been one of Kinngait studio’s most celebrated artists. She has a comprehensive knowledge of Inuit legends and a fine sense of design and composition. These elements have made many of her prints highly sought after by collectors. Ningeokuluk has had numerous solo shows of her bold and resplendent drawings and some of her work has been featured in exhibitions in major public galleries and museums.

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