Kivalliq
(1933–1990)
(1933–1990)
Marie Kuunnuaq (1933-1990) was born in the Mallery Lake area, southwest of Baker Lake, NU. About 1960, she moved to Baker Lake with her family. She is best known for her sculpture, but she also created the fabric appliqué wall hangings associated with Baker Lake. When working with the hard, steatite stone of the region, her sculpture is voluminous and often abstract, yet consistently expressive of subtle emotion and intimacy. In both mediums, Kuunnuaq predominantly concentrated on subject matter which explored intimate relationships, such as the bond between mother and child, between family groups, and between animals and the land. Several solo exhibitions of Kuunnuaq’s work were held in Montreal, QC, and Ottawa, ON, as well as internationally in the United States and Greenland. Six of her sculptures are in the WAG collection.
About
Marie Kuunnuaq was one of the most prolific artists from Baker Lake in the 1970s and 80s. She both carved and created wall hangings. In this carving, Kuunnuaq marked the texture of the muskox’s fur to distinguish it from the man. Muskoxen have long shaggy hair that protects them from the freezing temperatures, and they shed thick layers of wool in the summer.
