Silas Qayaqjuaq
Settlement: Hall Beach / Sanirajak
(1956-2024) — E5-1324
The son of two artists, Joanasi and Martha Kayakjuak, Silas began carving at an early age, producing his first serious works by the age of twelve. He learned the art of carving from watching his father and siblings work. He also credited his sister-in-law's encouragement as a source of inspiration.
His work reflects a keen interest in the human figure: "... I carve people in movement and everyday life. My father used to carve animals, and he used to say that all his life, he'd looked at people's faces and, after all those years, he'd never learned to carve the face. I challenged him and started carving people in movement, balanced and [pursuing] their lifestyle."*
Silas moved to Ottawa in the late 1980s and carved full-time until his death in 2024.
*from "Silas Qayaqyuaq Wants to Share Ideas With Other Artists", Inuit Art Quarterly, Spring, 1995, p. 25.
Artwork
| Title | Last Sold At Auction | |
|---|---|---|
| BELIEVER II | 2014-06 (June 2014) | |
| COMPOSITION WITH FACES, IGLOO AND FINGER | 2017-03 (March 2017) | |
| CRY OF THE RED THROATED LOON (LEGEND OF THE BLIND BOY AND THE LOON) | 2012-04 (April 2012) | |
| DRUM DANCER | 2015-01 (January 2015) | |
| DRUM DANCERS | 2013-11 (November 2013) | |
| DRUMMER | 2021-07 (July 2021) | |
| ELDER FACE PENDANT | 2016-08 (August 2016) | |
| GAME OF STRENGTH | 2018-01 (January 2018) | |
| HAPPY BOY | 2014-02 (February 2014) | |
| HIGH KICK | 2014-04 (April 2014) | |
| MINIATURE DRUMMER | 2018-01 (January 2018) | |
| MOTHER AND BABY | 2019-06 (June 2019) | |
| MY BALANCE | 2014-09 (September 2014) | |
| SEDNA | 2013-10 (October 2013) | |
| SEDNA SWIMMING IN PARKA | 2018-09 (September 2018) | |
| SPIRIT HELPING | 2013-11 (November 2013) | |
| SPIRIT KNIFE | 2020-08 (August 2020) | |
| THE LOON GIVES LUMIAK HIS SIGHT | 2016-11 (November 2016) | |
| THROAT SINGING | 2015-06 (June 2015) | |
| TOBOGGANING | 2014-04 (April 2014) | |
| TRAP IN TOBACCO | 2014-04 (April 2014) | |
| TWO SWIMMING SEDNAS | 2017-02 (February 2017) | |
| WOMAN SINGER | 2016-02 (February 2016) | |
| “BOY CHOPPING ICE” | 2016-08 (August 2016) | |
| “SHAMAN’S DRUM” | 2015-06 (June 2015) |
