Saimaiyu Akesuk

Born in 1988 in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Kinngait’s Saimaiyu Akesuk is at the forefront of a new generation of graphic artists who are transforming Inuit expressive traditions. The granddaughter of the legendary sculptor Latcholassie Akesuk, her contemporary depictions of Arctic animals and insects are whimsical and inventive, combining vital elements of abstraction and representation. Isolated against the white or black paper, Akesuk’s boldly rendered creatures are both imaginative and full of careful observation and respect for the natural world. Several of Akesuk’s images have been published as limited-edition prints and included in Kinngait’s annually released print collections.