Art Gallery of Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario

Curator(s): Tobi Bruce, Director, Collection and Exhibitions/Senior Curator; Guest Curators

Number of works: 173 Inuit

First work(s): A carving by Simon POV (1917-1964) titled Man Spearing (1960), acquired through the Director’s Purchase Fund. Recent acquisition(s): The Chedoke Collection of Inuit Art: 132 sculptures and prints created at the former Hamilton Mountain Sanatorium.

Significant exhibitions: Notable exhibitions have included Native Indian/Inuit Photographers’ Association (NIIPA) (1996, 2000 and 2002); In the Shadow of the Midnight Sun: Sámi and Inuit Art 2000–2005 (2006); Arctic Passion: The Inuit Art Collection of Christopher Bredt and Jamie Cameron (2010).

Interesting/unique/surprising works in the collection: Peter Ussuqi Anauta’s Standing Woman (circa. 1958). This steatite work, part of the Chedoke Collection, features an inlay of ivory or plastic.

The gallery recently broadened its Canadian mandate to more actively collect and exhibit Indigenous art. With a commitment to representing and interpreting local artists and collections from Six Nations of the Grand River to the Chedoke Collection from Hamilton Health Sciences, works are being acquired, interpreted and contextualized through an enhanced program of exhibitions and educational initiatives, developed with guest curators, artists, academics and community partnerships to broaden public awareness and access. — TB