Robert Charles Davidson

Robert Charles Davidson, also known as Guud San Glans (Eagle of the Dawn), is a master carver, printmaker, painter, and jeweler dedicated to reviving and sharing Haida culture. He is a member of the Eagle moiety, Ts’al’lanas lineage. He comes from a family of acclaimed artists including brother Reg Davidson, father Claude Davidson, and grandmother Florence Davidson. He and his brother formed the Rainbow Creek Dancers in 1980, establishing themselves as accomplished Haida singers and dancers. Davidson apprenticed with Bill Reid after studying at the Vancouver School of Art. He moved on to teach carving at ‘Ksan Historical Village’s Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art.

Davidson is regarded as one of Canada’s most important contemporary artists. He is a recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1995), the Order of British Columbia (1995), the Order of Canada (1996), the Governor General’s Award for Visual Arts (2010), and the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement Award in the Visual Arts (2010). He was awarded membership to the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts in 1996. Davidson holds honorary doctorates from various instituions including the University of Victoria, Southern Methodist University in Texas, the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, and Simon Fraser University.