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Worlds on Paper: Drawings from Kinngait

March 8 – August 24, 2025

face in coloured pencil, felt-tip pen on paper

Ningeeuga Oshuitoq (1919–1980), Untitled, 1978, coloured pencil and felt-tip pen on paper, 50.5 cm x 65.5 cm, collection of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd., on loan to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection CD.25.2734 © Dorset Fine Arts

The recent digitization of the Kinngait Drawings Archive—90,000 works strong and held by the McMichael for more than three decades—has allowed unprecedented curatorial access to the origins of this now world-renowned graphic tradition.

plane in graphite, coloured pencil, felt-tip pen on paper

Pudlo Pudlat (1916–1992), Untitled, 1984-85, graphite, coloured pencil and felt-tip pen on paper, 50.5 cm x 66.2 cm, collection of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd., on loan to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection CD.24.3908. © Dorset Fine Arts

ship in coloured pencil, felt-tip pen on paper

Pitseolak Ashoona (1904–1983), Ship, 1981, coloured pencil and felt-tip pen on paper, 51.2 cm x 66.7 cm, collection of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd., on loan to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection CD.27.6599 © Dorset Fine Arts

Curated by Emily Laurent Henderson, Associate Curator, Indigenous Arts and Culture at McMichael, this once-in-a-generation exhibition of more than 200 works will foreground the cultural continuities of life in Kinngait in the face of dramatic societal change over more than five decades. The adaptability and resilience of this unique community has been documented in works that depict intergenerational knowledge transfer, community building, and boundless imagination. 

This exhibition will reveal overlooked bodies of work by some of the country’s most beloved artists including Kenojuak Ashevak, Pitseolak Ashoona, Kananginak Pootoogook, and Pudlo Pudlat as well as introduce audiences to hitherto unknown artists whose work was suppressed by the aims of the print program that prioritized the tastes of settler markets in the South.  

family, felt-tip pen on paper

Anirnik Oshuitoq (1902–1983), Untitled, 1967-75, felt-tip pen on paper, 51 cm x 66 cm, collection of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd., on loan to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection CD.8.1632. © Dorset Fine Arts

adult holding power lines, acrylic paints on paper

Kingmeata Etidlooie (1915–1989), Untitled, acrylic paints on paper, 51.6 cm x 65.3 cm, collection of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd., on loan to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection CD.23.4020. © Dorset Fine Arts

Artists

The exhibition includes the work of 48 artists, some well-known and others nearly unknown.

Inuit artists of the Cape Dorset co-operative

Inuit artists of the Cape Dorset co-operative, 1961. From left, top row: Napachie Pootoogook, Pudlo Pudlat; bottom row: Egevadluq Ragee, Kenojuak Ashevak, Lucy Qinnuayuak, Pitseolak Ashoona, Kiakshuk, Parr. Photograph by B. Korda.

Anirnik Oshuitoq Kingmeata Etidlooie Peter Pitseolak
Aoudla Pudlat Kunu Pitaloosie Saila
Aoudlaluk Qayuaryuk Lucy Qinnuayuak Pitseolak Ashoona
Atamik Tukikie Lukta Qiatsuk Pudlo Pudlat
Egevadluq Ragee Sheouak Petaulassie Qabaroak Qatsiya
Elisapee Nungusuituq Mary Pudlat Qaunaq Mikkigak
Etidlooie Etidlooie Mayoreak Ashoona Qavavau Manumie
Etulu Etidlui Napachie Pootoogook Sharni Pootoogook
Innukjuakju Pudlat Natsivaar Sheouak Petaulassie
Johnniebo Ashevak Ningeeuga Oshuitoq Sorosiluto Ashoona
Kakulu Sagiatuk Oshutsiak Pudlat Sorosoluto Onalik
Kananginak Pootoogook Oviloo Tunnillie Tikitu Qinnuayuak
Keeleemeeoomee Samualie Parr Tye Adla
Kenojuak Ashevak Paunichea Ulayu Pingwartok
Kiawak Ashoona Pauta Saila

About the Exhibition Curator

Emily Laurent Henderson

Emily Laurent Henderson is an Inuk curator, arts writer and poet with a practice rooted in Indigenous creative sovereignty.

Henderson was the first full-time Inuk editor at the legacy publication the Inuit Art Quarterly, and in 2019 co-led a special issue of the magazine that focused on the Inuit artist collective Isuma who represented Canada at the 58th Venice Biennale the same year.

A former member of the Indigenous and Canadian art curatorial team at the Art Gallery of Ontario, her articles and commentary have been featured in the Inuit Art Quarterly, Inuktitut Magazine, C Magazine, Azure, Studio Magazine, and other national titles.

In 2024 her book of poetry Hold Steady My Vision was published by Print Studio Guelph.

Upcoming Events

family, felt-tip pen on paper

Curatorial Talk

Worlds On Paper: Drawings from Kinngait

Speakers: Emily Laurent Henderson & John Geoghegan

Sunday, March 9, 2025 | 2 to 3 pm

Free with gallery admission. Registration required.

Presenting Sponsors

Rand and Lynda Lomas

Terry West and Mark Defend

Lead Publication Sponsors

Bredt/Cameron Indigenous Art Curatorial Fund

Peter Goring

Goring Family Foundation

Generously Supported by

Erla Boyer and Patti Socha
Gallery Indigena/Inukshuk, Vancouver

Erla Boyer and Doug Socha
Gallery Indigena, Stratford

Joan Bush and Farsad Kiani

Chantelle Cseh

Gloria and Seymour Epstein

Keith Evans

First Arts

Sandra Forbes

Gallery Gevik

Elizabeth Grace and Susan Vella

Dr. Sherrill Grace O.C. and in memory
of the late Dr. John Grace O.C.

Erik Haites

Inuit Gallery of Vancouver

Julie Jai and David Trick

Alice and Ted Kernaghan

Hesty Leibtag and Terry Verk

Maureen Littlejohn

Madrona Gallery

Kathryn Minard

Alexandria Pike

Sarah Powell

Jennifer Prieto

Poonam Puri and Elian Terner

Robert Kardosh Gallery

Franziska Ruf

Melanie Shishler

Joyce and Fred Sparling

Allan Stitt and Lisa Lewis

Susan Wortzman and Glenn Smith

Media Partner