Natar Ungalaq

Natar Ungalaaq is an Inuit sculptor, actor, and film producer/director from Igloolik, Nunavut. He first started carving with his grandparents tools when he was a child and continued into adulthood. His work is collected in galleries across Canada; and has been exhibited across North America as well as in Rome, Italy. He draws inspiration from Inuit practices and traditions which form the imagery for his artwork; these stories were heard from his grandmother. There is a minimal amount of negative space and his sculptures tend to capture subjects mid-event. As of 2023 his work is held by the collections of the University of Lethbridge, National Gallery of Canada, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

He and his fellow carver and friend, Zacharias Kunuk, sold their sculptures in order to buy camera equipment. This led his path towards acting and directing; with his first cinematic role in 1994. He has continued to act throughout adulthood, and became most known for his lead role in Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001), for which he won a Cannes Camera d’Or.


https://katilvik.com/browse/artists/1740-natar-ungalaq/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0hG6Ptt4Xc
https://www.inuitartfoundation.org/profiles/artist/Natar-Ungalaaq#key-natar
https://www.qaggiavuut.ca/iu/node/707
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natar_Ungalaaq
https://diattaart.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/artist-of-the-moment-natar-ungalaaq/