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Kenojuak Ashevak
Canadian, 1927 - 2013
Kenojuak Ashevak was one of Canada’s most prolific artists, creating thousands of drawings, and hundreds of prints, in addition to working in sculpture over five decades. She was born in Ikirisaq, a camp on Baffin Island in 1927 to Oshoajuk and Silaqi. After the death of her father, Ashevak and her younger brother were raised by their maternal grandmother, Quisa. Ashevak married Johnniebo (Johnnybo/Johnnybou) Ashevak, who was a hunter, engraver and carver, and they moved to Cape Dorset with their children in 1966. Ashevak was the first woman to become involved with the printmaking shop at Cape Dorset and she was represented in almost every annual print collection 1959 until her death in 2013. While Ashevak was best known as a graphic artist, she also did carvings, designed blankets and co-created a mural with Johnniebo for the 1970 World's Fair in Osaka, Japan.
Ashevak emphasized the importance of encouraging future Inuit artists; her children and grandchildren are a testament to this fact. Ashevak and her husband had sixteen children, five adopted, before Johnnybo’s death in 1972. Visual artist Pee Ashevak was adopted by Ashevak and her husband at a young age and was similarly inspired by her son, Arnaquq (Arnaqu) Ashevak. Adamie Ashevak, another of Kenojuak’s sons became a notable carver and her grandson, Mathew (Mathewsie) Ashevak began carving at the age of five.
Ashevak has received a number of accolades and recognitions over her lifetime and posthumously. Notably, in 1967 she received the Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2012, she received the Governor General’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Additionally, a number of her works have been reproduced on postage stamps and, recently, 40 million commemorative $10 banknotes celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation included one of her owl prints. In 2014, the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award (KAMA) was established in Ashevak’s honour and provides up to $10,000 biannually to an established Inuit artist in support of a self-directed residency.
Ashevak emphasized the importance of encouraging future Inuit artists; her children and grandchildren are a testament to this fact. Ashevak and her husband had sixteen children, five adopted, before Johnnybo’s death in 1972. Visual artist Pee Ashevak was adopted by Ashevak and her husband at a young age and was similarly inspired by her son, Arnaquq (Arnaqu) Ashevak. Adamie Ashevak, another of Kenojuak’s sons became a notable carver and her grandson, Mathew (Mathewsie) Ashevak began carving at the age of five.
Ashevak has received a number of accolades and recognitions over her lifetime and posthumously. Notably, in 1967 she received the Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2012, she received the Governor General’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Additionally, a number of her works have been reproduced on postage stamps and, recently, 40 million commemorative $10 banknotes celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation included one of her owl prints. In 2014, the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award (KAMA) was established in Ashevak’s honour and provides up to $10,000 biannually to an established Inuit artist in support of a self-directed residency.