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Karoo Ashevak, artist (born in 1940 near Spence Bay, NT [now Taloyoak, NU] ; died there on 19 October 1974). Gaining recognition only late in his short artistic career, Karoo Ashevak is now acknowledged as an important figure in contemporary Inuit art in Canada.
Life and Artistic Work
Karoo Ashevak grew up living a traditional way of life on the land. He began carving in the late 1960s after moving into Spence Bay (now Taloyoak, Nunavut).
Ashevak brought to his work a lively imagination, a knowledge of traditional Inuit culture, a love of gadgets and tremendous skill as a carver. Working primarily in whalebone with stone, baleen and ivory highlights, he gave to his subjects — people, shaman, animals and birds — a sense of life, humour and spirituality. Throughout his life, Ashevak carved approximately 250 sculptures.
About five years after moving to Spence Bay, Ashevak and his wife died in a fire at their home.
