Mary K. Okheena is a prominent Inuk artist from Ulukhaktok (formerly Holman), Northwest Territories. She is renowned for her mastery in traditional printmaking, drawing, and embroidery. Okheena was influenced by her father, Jimmy Memorana, and her aunt, both of whom were involved in the Holman Eskimo Art Co-operative. Inspired by their work, she began creating her own art in her teens and joined the co-op in 1977.
Over her career, Okheena has had more than 70 of her drawings turned into prints, 36 of which she printed herself. Her vibrant works, often created using a unique stencil technique, depict scenes of traditional Arctic life with an emphasis on the movement and expressions of human and animal figures. She also excels in embroidery, creating playful and detailed wall hangings that reflect life in the North.
Okheena's work is showcased in galleries across Canada and is part of public collections such as the Canadian Museum of History and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Additionally, she has illustrated children's literature, including The Dancing Fox: Arctic Folktales by John Bierhorst.
