Tuna (Toona) Iquliq

Tuna (Toona) Iquliq

Tuna (Toona) Iquliq (1935-2015) Biography

Tune (Toona) Iquliq (1935-2015) carved for over forty years with his family; Iquliq’s wife Sarah is a carver and textile artist. Their children Camille, Johnny and Louie are well-known carvers. His work was featured in many exhibitions across Canada and the U.S. as well as Belgium, France, Germany and England. In addition, many of his works are found in important collections such as that of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the National Gallery of Canada.

Toona Iquliq inspired other young carvers when he arrived in Baker Lake; at the time, a co-op was not yet established. While he was recognized for his rounded carvings of people and birds in the rich black basalt stone found near Baker Lake, figures such as musk oxen, people, birds and polar bears were also characteristic imagery.

Collections:
Canadian Museum of Civilization
National Gallery of Canada
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec
Dennos Museum Center, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.A.
Eskimo Museum, Churchill, Manitoba
Inuit Cultural Institute, Rankin Inlet, Northwest Territories
Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Sarick Collection, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
Williamson Collection, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Community: Baker Lake, NU