Kellypalik Qimirpik
(1948-2017) - Cape Dorset, Nunavut
Kellypalik Qimirpik was a sculptor based out of Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU. Born in Ikirasaq, he first learned to carve as a teenager from his brother Allashua Atsiaq and began developing his artistic practice in his twenties. Qimirpik’s sculptures were generally voluminous but capably balanced the weight of the stone without becoming overwhelmed by the density of the material. He is known for his depictions of dancing wildlife and transformative compositions with human faces emerging from the stone.
Qimirpik’s style tended towards realism in his depictions of wildlife. Walrus and musk oxen were among the most common subjects of his carvings. In addition to wildlife, Qimirpik produced several artworks that prominently feature human faces and heads. Qimirpik’s heads are typically elongated and feature large, triangular noses. Qimirpik’s transformation and shaman pieces tend to combine human features with one or more animals amalgamated into a single figure, playing with distorted senses of anatomy and scale. The facial features of his figures are either superficially incised or deeply engraved, often accentuating a tongue or teeth.
In 2002 Qimirpik was involved in a large sculptural project in the Toronto Inukshuk Park (formerly Battery Park). He created a 30-foot high inukshuk sculpture that was installed to commemorate World Youth Day and the visit of Pope John Paul II to Toronto. Qimirpik designed and carved each of the sculptural components from 50 tonnes of Ontarian rose granite. The final sculpture is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in North America.
Qimirpik’s work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally including Masters of the Arctic: An Exhibition of Contemporary Inuit Masterworks, a decade-long touring exhibition inaugurated at the United Nations in New York City in 1989. His works are also held in the permanent collections of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB and the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Bio & Photo c/o Inuit Art Foundation
