INUK ARTIST/SCULPTOR KIAWAK ASHOONA BORN
Kiawak (AKA Kiugak), born at Tariugajak, Baffin Island, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut) and son of famed artist Pitseolak Ashoona, began carving while growing up near Cape Dorset. Kiawak’s works focused on Inuit people undertaking traditional activities, as well as mythological & fantasy creatures. In addition to carvings, he drew, painted, and made prints. Prior to his death in 2014, he had the longest artistic career of any Cape Dorset artist. Awards include: National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1997); Molson Prize, Canada Council for the Arts (1999); Officer, Order of Canada (2000); member, Royal Canadian Academy (2001); Nunavut Commissioner’s Art Award (2009); and Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden (2002) & Diamond (2012) Jubilee Medals. His work appears in, among others: Museum of Modern Art; National Gallery of Canada; Metropolitan Museum of Art; McMichael Canadian Art Collection; and British Museum. His sculpture of the Inuit sea goddess Sedna was featured on a 1980 Canadian stamp.
Sources: Marie Routledge, “Kiowak Ashoona,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2/7/2006 (last edited 11/29/2016). Retrieved 3/13/2022, Kiawak Ashoona | The Canadian Encyclopedia Wikipedia Photo: Ansgar Walk, 5/31/2006. Giant Destroying Iglu, by Kiugak Ashoona, 1999. Permissive Use.
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