Artist Info
Ruth Qaulluaryuk
Ruth Qaulluaryuk is a textile and graphic artist from Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), NU. Born in the Back River area in 1932, Qaulluaryuk is the daughter of renowned graphic artist and printmaker Luke Anguhadluq. There is disagreement on who her mother is, some sources say it is Marion Tuu’luq, others state that Anguhadluq did not marry Tuu’luq, his third wife, until 1955, and Tuu’luq is Qaulluaryuk’s step-mother. Regardless, Qaulluaryuk grew up on the land with her half-brother, Thomas Iksiraq, and several half-sisters. Qaulluaryuk married graphic artist Josiah Nuilaalik, the eldest son of renowned artist Jessie Oonark, and would go on to have fourteen children, including sculptor Armand Kannayuk.
One of the last families to relocate, Qaulluaryuk and her family lived nomadically until the 1970s, when they settled in Qamani’tuaq for their children to go to school. Qaulluaryuk sewed clothing and made various craft items to supplement the family’s income. In 1974, two of her wall hangings were featured in the Crafts from Arctic Canada exhibition, and shortly thereafter, her prints were frequently included in the Baker Lake annual print catalogues.
