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Josie Papialuk
Canadian, 1918 - 1996
Josie Papialuk was a skilled graphic artist and sculptor from Puvirnituq (Povungnituk), QC. Born in 1918 at Issuksiuvit Lake, little is known about Papialuk’s life before his artistic pursuits. He originally began by contributing drawings to Puvirnituq’s first print collection in 1962. Papialuk’s works often include themes of storytelling, animals, people, humour, and hunger.
He was one of the first artists in his community to experiment with printmaking and use colour in his stonecut prints. From the 1960s to the 1980s, Papialuk was a major contributor to Puvirnituq’s print collection. Sculpture was a secondary art form for Papialuk, though he has a fairly unique style. Instead of carving away imperfections in stone, he often circled them, and occasionally carved stitches around them. Widowed in 1975 after the death of his wife Martha, Papialuk lived with his son in the later years of his life.
Papialuk’s works have been exhibited across Canada and he was one of the few Inuit artists to ever have a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada in 2003.
He was one of the first artists in his community to experiment with printmaking and use colour in his stonecut prints. From the 1960s to the 1980s, Papialuk was a major contributor to Puvirnituq’s print collection. Sculpture was a secondary art form for Papialuk, though he has a fairly unique style. Instead of carving away imperfections in stone, he often circled them, and occasionally carved stitches around them. Widowed in 1975 after the death of his wife Martha, Papialuk lived with his son in the later years of his life.
Papialuk’s works have been exhibited across Canada and he was one of the few Inuit artists to ever have a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada in 2003.