ᐱᑕᓗᓯ
PITALOOSIE SAILA
ᐱᑕᓗᓯ
PITALOOSIE SAILA
1942-2021
Inuit
Kinngait, Dorset Island, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada
Graphic Arts
Pitaloosie Saila was born in 1942 on the southwest coast of Qikiqtaaluk [Baffin Island] near Kinngait. She began drawing in the early 1960's and has been a regular contributor to the annual print collection at Kinngait Studios since 1968.
Her work is known for expressing a diverse range of themes that chronicle the traditional Inuit way of life. Her personal style ocellated between pure realism and abstraction to create powerful compositions with finely articulated colours and textures. She was one of the few artists of her generation to speak both English and Inuktitut fluently and this deeply informed her storytelling practices.
In 1977, her print Fisherman's Dream (1971) was chosen to be featured on a Canada Post issued stamp. Her 1985 lithograph In the Hills was also selected to represent the Northwest Territories during the centenary celebration of National Parks Canada. Her work with Amnesty International also saw her drawing Mother and Child (1968) feature in their 1990 international Christmas card campaign which helped raise awareness of Human Rights issues around the world. Depictions of resilient, joyful and nurturing matriarchs appear often throughout her body of work.
Depictions of resilient, joyful and nurturing matriarchs appear often throughout her body of work. Pitaloosie was chosen as one of 9 artists in the landmark exhibition Isumavut: the Artistic Expression of Nine Cape Dorset Women at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation in 1994.
Among her many accolades she, along with her husband (acclaimed sculptor Pauta Saila) were appointed as members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in recognition of their life's work and contributions to Canadian art. Her work is sought after by public and private collectors around the world and continues to be widely exhibited internationally, including in New York, London, Jerusalem and Los Angeles.
