Pudlo Pudlat

Pudlo Pudlat (1916–1992) was a talented artist born at Ilupirlik, a small camp near Amadjuak, NU, who was later based out of Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU. Considered one of the most original contemporary Inuit artists, Pudlat was known for depicting the transition from traditional nomadic Inuit lifestyles to modern technologies [1]. He started his art practice as a sculptor and eventually began working in painting and drawing. During his lifetime, Pudlat created approximately 4,500 drawings and 190 prints [2].

While his early works included creatures in addition to humorous combinations of fantasy and reality, Pudlat often depicted imagery of traditional life merged with modern technology. His subjects ranged from helicopters, planes, angels and churches to animals and scenes of summer camps. “At times when I draw, I am happy, but sometimes its very hard,” Pudlat stated in the 1978 Cape Dorset print catalogue. “I have been drawing for a long time now, I only draw what I think, but sometimes I think the pencil has a brain too” [3]. Pudlat’s work blended traditional and modern worlds, breaking down preconceptions of northern life and conveying a deep sense of harmony in their negotiations.

Pudlat was the first Inuit artist to be honoured with a retrospect of his work at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, ON, titled Pudlo: Thirty Years of Drawing from 1990 to 1991 [4]. Many of his pieces are still showcased there today and held in major collections in Vancouver, BC, Toronto, ON, Montreal, QC, and the United States. In addition, Pudlat’s prints featured prominently in the Cape Dorset Annual Print Collections and the print Flight to Sea (1985) was featured in the Vancouver Exposition in 1986 as well as in his solo show at the National Gallery of Canada. Pudlat’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions in Canada, the United States and Europe, including at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Manitoba, Albert Gallery in San Francisco, CA, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, ON, among many others.