Artist Info
Mayureak Ashoona
Mayureak Ashoona (Disc Number: E7-818)
Born 1946
A graphic artist and carver, Mayureak Ashoona was born in Saturitik in the Qikiqtaaluk region in 1946. She began drawing and sculpting in the 1960s, often conveying scenes from her traditional lifestyle on the land in her artwork. Mayureak grew up away from permanent settlements, and lived much of her adult life in camps near Kinngait until her husband, Qaqaq Ashoona passed away in 1996, and then she moved into Kinngait. In her ink and pencil crayon drawings, she often utilizes bold colours, symmetry, and depicts nature. Mayuereak’s work can be found in Cape Dorset annual print collections, frequently shown in exhibitions such as Uuturautiit: Cape Dorset Celebrates 50 Years of Printmaking. Her work is part of various collections including the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Canada. Her artwork is featured in the 1994 book Inuit Women Artists: Voices from Cape Dorset, in which she says, “Every year I prepare skins, sew clothing, make soapstone carvings and I have also been drawing since the time they started buying drawings. I will put all of my abilities towards what needs doing, as long as my abilities are available to me. There are times when it is difficult if I’ve not yet learned how to do something. But as we are the only ones living at our outpost camp I do get things done! There has never been anyone there to answer my questions, so I’ve had to learn how to do things and make things on my own.” She was elected into the Royal Academy of Art in 2003. She currently resides in Kinngait, Nunavut.
