• Feature

25+ Ways Inuit Artists Have Historically Used Pantone's Colour of the Year

Jan 03, 2020
by IAQ
When Pantone picked Classic Blue as the Colour of the Year for 2020, they described it as timeless, elegant, restful and comfortable, a “stable foundation” on which to build. Perhaps that’s why Inuit artists have so often used this hue as a backdrop in their works over the years, a stand-in for the comfort offered by the clear blue of sky, sea and ice.

Check out these stunning blue works that show how artists have used this classic colour in imaginative ways.



Arvik-Bowhead-Whale-Tim-Pitsiulak

Tim Pitsiulak
 Arvik/Bowhead Whale (2009) Serigraph 34 x 29.5 
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts 



PadlooSamayuallieLeavingYellowknifeHeadingSouth

Padloo Samayualie
Leaving Yellowknife, Heading to Calgary (2016) Coloured pencil, graphite and ink 23 x 30 in.
Courtesy Feheley Fine Arts Reproduced with Permission Dorset Fine Arts



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Passa Mangiuk
Convergence North/South (2018) linocut 39 x 66 ⅛ in.
Courtesy Feheley Fine Arts



11-Sheojuk-Studio PM- blue Bird

Sheojuk Etidlooie
Blue Bird (1977) Etching/aquatint
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



AlivaktukLeetiaBowheadWhalesNearPangnirtung

Leetia Alivaktuk
Bowhead Whales Near Pangnirtung (2018) Linocut 14 x 19.5 in.
Courtesy Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts



AlivaktukTimTaggingAlong

Tim Alivaktuk
Tagging Along (2018) Stonecut 52 x 31cm
Courtesy Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts



Peggy Andersen Simple Mitts.  Tanned ringed seal with royal blue moosehide; and beaver trim.

Peggy Andersen
 
Simple Mitts (2017) Sealskin, moosehide and beaver 
Courtesy the artist 



AshevakKenojuakNunavut(OurLand)

Kenojuak Ashevak
Nunavut (Our Land) (1992) lithograph 230 x 370.5 cm
Copyright DORSET FINE ARTS



BroughtonIsland1990

Unknown
Wall hanging (1990) Wool, acrylic and cotton 33 x 46.5 cm
Courtesy Canadian Museum of History



CampbellHeatherJellyfish 2014

Heather Campbell
Jellyfish #2 (2014) Pen and ink 16 x 20 in.
Courtesy the artist



CD2011-26-01_LRG

Papiara Tukiki
Iqalukjuat (Blue Sharks) (2011) Stonecut 11 x 25 in
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



EtidlooiekingmeataHuntersDream

Kingmeata Etidlooie
Hunter’s Dream (1988) Lithograph 55 x 76 cm
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



gilberthaynaturalgas-jpg

Gilbert Hay
Natural Gas (1991) Steatite, multi-coloured grey/agate blue/coloured gems from the Banff area 23.5 X 16.0 X 6.0 in.
Courtesy McMichael Canadian Art Collection



Inuk360 Toronto Fashion Week

Inuk 360
Sealskin Earrings (2018)
Courtesy Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto



Janet KigusuqBLUE FISH1999

Janet Kigusiuq
Blue Fish (1999)
Courtesy the artist



JoeTaliruniliShipwreck

Joe Talirunili
Shipwreck (1968) Stonecut 13.75 x 21.5 in.
Courtesy Galerie Elca London 



KablusiakCarryingInGroceries

Kablusiak
Carrying in Groceries (2019)
Courtesy the artist



KanaginakPootoogookBearsOnBlue2004

Kananginak Pootoogook
Bears on Blue Ice (2004) Stonecut and stencil 43.7 x 62 in
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



KilabukAnnieWhaleHuntingInKayak copy

Annie Kilabuk
Whalehunt in Kayak (2000) Etching 15 x 22 ¼ in
Courtesy Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts



LaisaAudlalukWatsko

Laisa Audlaluk-Watsko
Untitled (2019) Digital Photograph
Courtesy the artist



NicotyeSamayualieLotsofCottonFlowers2013

Nicotye Samayualie
Lots of Cotton Flowers (2013) Coloured pencil and pen
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



NiviaksiakPolarBearAndCubInIce

Niviaksiak
Polar Bear and Cub in Ice (1959) Stencil 24.4 x 48.3 cm
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts




EvaTalookiAliktilik Mother and Child1993(left)Figure(right)1994

Eva Talooki Aliktilik
 Mother and Child (1993) (L) Figure (1994) (R) Stone and glass beads




NungnikJanetSon-in-Laws

Janet Nungnik
Son-in-Laws (2002) wool felt, embroidery floss, beadwork on wool duffel 17 x 28.5 in.
Courtesy Marion Scott Gallery



QatsiyaQabaroakTwoMenDiscussingComingHunt

Qabaroak Qatsiya
Two Men Discussing Coming Hunt (1961) Stencil 50.8 x 63.6 cm
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



TeeveeNingiukuluGlitteringWalrus

Ningiukuluk Teevee
Glittering Walrus (2019) Etching, Aquatint and Hand Colouring 78 x 121 cm
Copyright Dorset Fine Arts



VFashione-7_1024x

Victoria Kakuktinniq
ATUAT | ᐊᑐᐊᑦ (2019) Polyester, cotton, sealskin and fox fur
Courtesy the artist