Jaco Ishulutak, born on February 15, 1951, is a celebrated Inuit artist from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. He comes from a family of artists, with his mother, Elisapee Ishulutak, being a renowned graphic artist. Jaco began his artistic journey at the age of 16, primarily inspired by his grandfather, who passed down traditional knowledge through storytelling. His preferred mediums include soapstone, walrus ivory, whalebone, and antler, with his works often focusing on Inuit culture and wildlife, particularly walruses and mythical figures like Sedna, the sea goddess.
Ishulutak's art is widely recognized and has been displayed in prestigious collections, including the Musée d'Art Inuit Brousseau in Quebec and the Peary-MacMillan Museum of the Arctic in Maine. Over his career, he has mentored younger artists and contributed to important community projects, such as a large granite monument for the turbot fishery in Pangnirtung in 2015. In 2018, his contribution to Inuit visual arts was honored with the Nunavut Commissioners’ Arts Award.
