Lucy Abraham's Detailed Sealskin Accessories

I was 19 years old when I got my ears pierced. I remember being very overwhelmed but excited to start showing off my personality through my earring choices and keen to start wearing my mom’s earrings from the ’80s. I imagine the joy I would feel if I had a pair of earrings as beautiful as the ones Lucy Abraham creates. 

Abraham is an artist from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, QC, who primarily creates stunning earrings but also makes beautiful mittens and other winter accessories. Her earrings tend to be dangly and bold in shape with subtle colours, but she is easily able to mix up her style when commissioned. Abraham has been creating since she was a child. Her primary mediums of sewing and beading hold a dear spot in her heart as they were taught to her by members of her community and her sister. Abraham uses materials available to her in Kuujjuaq, particularly sealskin and fox fur. 

I was immediately enamoured with these studs due to the bright colours of the beads and the familiar shape of the whale tail. Abraham told me they were a custom order for someone who asked her to create earrings based on the sunset. The bright orange, yellow, pink and purple represent a vibrant sunset, and they make me imagine myself next to Abraham watching the sunset in Kuujjuaq. These chic and intricate earrings required multiple steps to make. From creating the initial patterns to putting together the pieces of sealskin to beading the edges, Abraham is detail-oriented in every aspect of these earrings. Taking a closer look at the earrings (and perhaps imagining them on your own ears), you can tell that she thought of every detail.

While I was scrolling through Abraham’s Instagram, this sealskin cowl neck piece stood out to me immediately. The blue sections are dyed, and the richness of the blue is really what makes the piece pop for me. The individual pieces that make up the cowl neck have a unique, jewel-like shape to them that makes the piece feel like a large, elegant necklace made from sealskin. I imagine placing the cowl neck on myself on a cold winter’s day and how regal I would feel wearing it. This piece didn’t start out as a big dream project—it was a way for Abraham to use leftover material. “Inuit people . . . don’t waste anything from the animal. We try to use up whatever we can.” 

Abraham’s rich blue and floral-patterned Alaskan-style mittens are ones that I would proudly wear. There is a softness to the mittens’ fox fur that one can almost feel just by looking at the photo. The fox fur around the wrists adds to the warmth, while the floral sealskin palms add to the aesthetic. Abraham created these mittens based on a pattern from a community member. Alaskan-style mittens are created through just straight sewing, while Inuit-style mittens have pleats and folds to them. This pair is made up of three layers: sealskin, an insulative layer you may recognize from the lining of your winter boots and the internal lining. The dark blue of the mitts is a colour I associate with winter, while the delicate floral pattern is a reminder that spring is just around the corner.

Lucy Abraham’s artwork is intricate, beautiful and centred around joy and pride. It is evident that she is cognizant of every piece she makes and the impact it will have on the person receiving it. If you like Lucy Abraham’s work, you may also enjoy the work of Adeline Mar from Iqaluit, NU; Eleonora Godwin from Nain, Nunatsiavut, NL; and Agnes Kuptana from Ulukhaqtuuq, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT.

Is there another artist you’d like to see featured in an upcoming newsletter? If so, let me know. I’d love to hear from you!


This Spotlight originally appeared in the August 2025 Inuit Art Quarterly newsletter. Sign up to the newsletter here and be the first to receive new spotlights!"