Artist Info
Hannah Kigusiuq
Hannah Kigusiuq was a graphic artist from Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), NU. Born in 1931 in Hanningajuq (Garry Lake), NU, Kigusiuq lived a traditional Inuit life before settling in Qamani’tuaq in the mid-1950s. Her husband, Kuuk, and other members of her camp became ill with tuberculosis and had to move to Qamani’tuaq to receive treatment. Kuuk was subsequently hospitalized in the South for two years and Kigusiuq turned to drawing as a way to supplement her income while her husband was away.
Although she had little artistic experience before coming to Qamani’tuaq, Kigusiuq developed her own personal style and technique over the years with help from other artists in the community. Kigusiuq is best known for her controlled pencil line drawings depicting large groups of people and animals with the frequent addition of Inuktitut characters.
Featured in the Sanavik (Baker Lake) Annual Print Collection catalogues from 1970 -1990, Kigusiuq’s works are widely recognized. Her drawings and prints have been exhibited across Canada.
