Artist Info
Elisapee Ishulutaq
Elisapee Ishulutaq was a renowned printmaker and graphic artist from Pangnirtung (Panniqtuuq), NU. Ishulutaq was born at the seasonal camp Kagiqtuqjuaq on Cumberland Sound in 1925 where she lived a traditional Inuit lifestyle with her family. While her father taught her how to do pencil drawings, it was not until her mid-forties, when Ishulutaq moved to Pangnirtung with her family, that she began her prints in earnest. Ishulutaq’s prints depict traditional ways of life, before settlements, with an integration of contemporary social, environmental and climate issues. Quickly became one of the most active artists in the community, Ishulutaq contributed over a dozen prints to the inaugural Pangnirtung print collection in 1973. Notably, she was the last living contributor to the community’s print collection until her passing in 2018.
Shifting from graphite pencil, Ishulutaq began working with oil sticks in 2009, which allowed for an exploration of colour and composition not previously seen in her prints. Centring her lived experiences as an Inuit woman, Ishulutaq worked to communicate with and teach the future generations. A number of Ishulutaq’s prints have been translated into tapestry and woven works. Ishulutaq’s husband, Kanayuk, was a sculptor and several of their children also became artists including sculptor Jaco Ishulutaq, who was the joint award winner of the Nunavut Commissioners’ Arts in 2018.
Ishulutaq herself has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the Award of Merit in the 1973 California College of Arts and Crafts International Print Competition and, most recently, the Order of Canada for her contributions to the cultural and economic health of her community as a role model and mentor in 2014. Ishulutaq’s work has been internationally exhibited across Canada and Europe. Her work was recently included in the 2018 ULAG exhibition, Recent Acquisitions: Highlights from the Collection of Dr Margaret (Marmie) Perkins Hess.
