Arnaqu Ashevak was a multidisciplinary Inuit artist born in 1956 near Cape Dorset on Baffin Island, Nunavut. He was the adopted son of renowned artists Kenojuak and Johnniebo Ashevak. Arnaqu began his artistic career in the early 1980s, primarily focusing on carving and later expanding into printmaking and mixed-media constructions.
Arnaqu Ashevak was known for his innovative use of various and often unconventional materials to create three-dimensional works. He participated in a five-week residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in 1981, where he experimented with ceramics. This experience significantly influenced his artistic development, leading him to explore graphic arts and two-dimensional design.
Throughout his career, Arnaqu's work was exhibited across Canada and the United States, including at Feheley Fine Arts in Toronto and the Albers Gallery of Inuit Art in San Francisco. His pieces are part of the permanent collections of several prestigious institutions, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Arnaqu passed away in 2009, but his legacy continues through his unique contributions to Inuit art and his innovative approach to sculpture and printmaking.
