Created by the Inuit peoples of the Canadian Arctic, and sculpted from the stone, bone and antler of their lands, the stirring beauty of this unique art form inspires feelings of triumph and celebration, honor and tradition, whimsical joy and stoic endurance.

Beginning before the stone is chiseled from the earth and ending only when the artist releases the image he or she had visualized in the raw material, Inuit soapstone carving is a journey for both artist and art lover. In its striking simplicity, this traditional art form marries the physical and the spiritual to the natural material, sculpted by hand with basic tools, and the eternal, imbued into the stone by the artist.

Whether from the islands, where representations of Arctic wildlife are generally naturalistic in style, or from the central Arctic, where carvings are simple in form but carry considerable emotional power, Inuit sculpture depicts the inseparable relationship of the Inuit peoples to the land and its creatures - an interconnected community of life, at once spanning past, present and future.

Spiritual images, land and marine mammals, and depictions of traditional camp life are the favorite subjects of Inuit sculpture. Expressing the multiplicity of experiences of the North's peoples, the art featured on this site provides a window into the mind's eye of the Inuit peoples. Showcasing works of austere beauty alongside whimsical celebrations, we are honored to bring you the rousing work of these acclaimed artists.