Joe Peters
Kwakwaka'wakw
(1959-1994)
Joe Peters Jr. was born in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1959 to a family with a long history of carving, singing, and dancing. His Kwakwaka’wakw heritage is a major inspiration in his work.
Peters was taught the art of carving from his father and his grandfather, Jack James, but formally trained by Dwayne Simeon, who introduced him to the fundamentals of the artform. He is also inspired by the work of notable carvers Beau Dick and Russell Smith. Peters had a formative artistic experience working at the Arts of the Raven Workshop in Victoria, British Columbia, alongside Beau Dick and Russell Smith.
Peters is known for his fusion of tradition with personal style in his many masks, bowls, model totem poles, and rattles. He passed away in 1994 at the young age of 35.
