Martha Tickie (1939-2015) was an influential Inuit artist from Baker Lake (Qamani’tuaq), Nunavut, Canada. She is recognized for her unique contributions to Inuit sculpture, particularly as one of the few female Inuit artists who carved in basalt, a medium often dominated by men. Tickie began carving at a young age, learning from her grandfather. Her work often explored themes of motherhood and the natural world, with musk oxen and mother-child depictions being some of her most prominent subjects.
“I really love to make carvings. I learn new things all the time and I like to experiment on my own. Sometimes it takes two or three days to find a solution. My grandfather taught me how to carve when we lived on the Kazan River. He would carve soapstone pots for cooking meat. I have many jobs besides carving because I like to be independent. I carve from March to August but I take July off. I built myself a cabin at Prince River and that’s where I go in July”
Throughout her career, Tickie's artwork was featured in numerous exhibitions, including "An Enduring Tradition: Inuit Carving from Arctic Quebec" at the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver and "Women of the North: An Exhibition of Art by Inuit Women of the Canadian Arctic" at the Marion Scott Gallery. Her pieces are also part of prestigious collections such as the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
