Kenojuak Ashevak
1927 - 2013
Kenojuak Ashevak was one of Canada's most celebrated Inuit artists. Born in an igloo on Baffin Island, she overcame early hardships, including her father's death and a three-year hospitalization for tuberculosis, to become a pioneering figure in modern Inuit art. Beginning her artistic career in the late 1950s at Cape Dorset, she became known for her distinctive drawings and prints, particularly her iconic work "The Enchanted Owl" (1960). Her art, characterized by vibrant colors and imaginative representations of Arctic wildlife, appeared on Canadian stamps, coins, and banknotes. Her achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada, and she became the first Inuit artist inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Through her five-decade career, she helped bring Inuit art to international recognition while maintaining her characteristic humility about her extraordinary talent.
Kenojuak Ashevak Biography
1927 - 2013
Kenojuak Ashevak was one of Canada's most celebrated Inuit artists. Born in an igloo on Baffin Island, she overcame early hardships, including her father's death and a three-year hospitalization for tuberculosis, to become a pioneering figure in modern Inuit art. Beginning her artistic career in the late 1950s at Cape Dorset, she became known for her distinctive drawings and prints, particularly her iconic work "The Enchanted Owl" (1960). Her art, characterized by vibrant colors and imaginative representations of Arctic wildlife, appeared on Canadian stamps, coins, and banknotes. Her achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada, and she became the first Inuit artist inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Through her five-decade career, she helped bring Inuit art to international recognition while maintaining her characteristic humility about her extraordinary talent.