Artist Info
Charlie Inukpuk
Charlie Inukpuk (Disc Number: E9-906)
1941 -
Charlie Inukpuk, a sculptor, was born in Kotak, north of Inukjuak, in 1941. His family was relocated from a camp to Inukjuak, Nunavik in the 1950s. When he was young, he watched his father carve and later began carving sculptures of his own. In an interview published in a 1996 issue of Inuit Art Quarterly, Inukpuk said of his work "When we lived in Nauligaqvik, where I first learned to carve, we could get soapstone from the point. I don't recall exactly what my very first carving was...” Some of the subjects of his carvings include kayaks, mothers, and animals. He also carved heads for his wife, Elisapee’s, dolls as well as basket handles. Many of his sculptures feature large or prominent hands, which Charlie attributed to “I carved according to the shape of the soapstone, but I think I made the hands too large. When the soapstone felt too fragile, I just made the best of it.” His work can be found in a multitude of collections including the Winnipeg Art Gallery, National Gallery of Canada, UBC Museum of Anthropology and others. He still occasionally carves but stopped when demand slowed and he could no longer make a living from carving.
Father: Johnny Inukpuk
Spouse: Elisapee Inukpuk
