Damien Iquallaq

Damien Iquallaq
Damien Iqualluq

Biography

Damien Iquallaq is a talented carver and jewellery maker from Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven), NU who is currently based in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay). He started his career at the age of 18, drawing inspiration from the long line of carvers in his family, including his grandfather Nelson Takkiruq (1930-1999) as well as from his Netsilik Inuit heritage and traditional Inuit stories.

Iquallaq’s carvings often depict traditional legends as well as local animals such as muskox and owls. His creativity and skill come through the details he incorporates into his carvings, such as the texture of muskox hair or bronze bands inlaid into stone. He previously worked with local stone and natural materials but now sources materials such as mammoth ivory from Siberia and Russia, which he prefers to work with for it's large size. Iquallaq has also branched out into jewellery and accessory making using materials sourced by Inuit around Nunavut as well as mammoth ivory.

Iquallaq sells his work across Canada and internationally to private buyers and organizations. He is featured in the Fall 2018 issue of the Inuit Art Quarterly.

Artist Work

About Damien Iquallaq

Medium:

Jewellery, Sculpture

Artistic Community:

Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), NU

Date of Birth:

Artists may have multiple birth years listed as a result of when and where they were born. For example, an artist born in the early twentieth century in a camp outside of a community centre may not know/have known their exact date of birth and identified different years.

Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven), NU
1988