Senior’s Tour & Tea with guest artist Kablusiak!
December 2, 2025 | 10:00a.m. - 12:30p.m.
Ukpik Ornament Making Workshop
Ukpiks refers to the snowy owl and is a popular subject for Inuit handicraft ornaments and art. These items are cherished as both toys and decorative objects and are often made from traditional materials.
Guest Artist Biography
Kablusiak is a multidisciplinary Inuvialuk artist who creates work in a variety of materials including, but not limited to, soapstone, permanent marker, bed sheets, felt, fur, and words. Their work explores the dis/connections between existence within and without Inuit Nunangat, the impacts of colonization on gender and sexuality expressions, trying to make people laugh, and the everyday. Kablusiak holds a BFA in Drawing from AUArts in Mohkinstsis/Calgary, and currently lives and works in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan/Edmonton. Their work can be found in the collections of the Indigenous Art Centre, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Art Gallery of Alberta, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, and Global Affairs Visual Art Collection, among others. Kablusiak was awarded the 2023 Sobey Art Award and is represented by Norberg Hall.
Red Ookpik with Hat, 2023
Photo credit Norberg Hall
𝗞𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗞 X 𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗢
Norberg Hall | Booth A34
___________________________
Metro Toronto Convention Centre | Oct 23-25 @art_toronto
This series marks Kablusiak’s first foray into making figurative dolls, inspired by those their nanuk and great-nanuk created. The dolls are reminiscent of Kablusiak’s drawings and speak to the artist’s broader multidisciplinary practice. They explore the relationship between art objects and souvenirs, engaging with the intersections of tourism, capitalism, and the art market within Inuit art.
Kablusiak has created atikłuk in the past, traditional garments often made in the “Mother Hubbard” style. This form traces its lineage to missionary influences and their puritan ideas of modesty. Kablusiak’s adaptation of the atikłuk reflects an ethic of taking only what is needed while respecting
materials and acknowledging the difficult colonial histories tied to these forms. This principle is echoed in their use of second-hand or thrifted fabric for these sculptures, grounding the works in both cultural continuity and critical reflection.
@kablusiak
Kablusiak’s project was supported by Inuit Art Foundation’s Kajungiqsaut Grants and the Edmonton Arts Council. @inuitartfoundation@yegarts
Email for more information ➕ availability: [email protected]
𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗘 Link in bio
𝗡𝗢𝗪
𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘵𝘪𝘬ł𝘶𝘬
2025
Bed sheets, fiber fill, felt, embroidery floss, thrifted fabric, museum mount, plexiglass
5 x 6 x 2 in. small (x5)
10 x 5 x 2 in. medium (x5)
14 x 6 x 2 in. large (x5)
#Kablusiak #ArtToronto #NorbergHall #InuitArt #ContemporaryInuitArt #Atikluk #DollsInAtikluk #IndigenousArt #CanadianArt #TextileArt #ContemporarySculpture #MixedMediaArt #ArtFair #TorontoArtScene #InuitArtFoundation #EdmontonArtsCouncil #HandmadeArt #ArtCollectors #BoothA34
Umingmak Circle, 2025. The idea is rooted in fellow queer folks protecting our youth/most vulnerable ones, and the utilization of pride as a protective barrier and also as a way to stand stronger together 🌈 quyanainni @osmich for the invitation to make this cover for the summer issue of IAQ @inuitartfoundation ✨
Exhibiting as part of ᐃᔨᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ / ᑕᑯᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ Ijilauqsimajugut / Takusimajugut (We were hidden / We are seen), curated by @uviluujunga —opening at @debaser__ ’s Pique at @saw_centre on June 7—@kablusiak is a multidisciplinary Inuvialuk artist who creates work in a variety of materials including, but not limited to, soapstone, permanent marker, bed sheets, felt, fur, and words. Their work explores the dis/connections between existence within and without Inuit Nunangat, the impacts of colonization on gender and sexuality expressions, trying to make people laugh, and the everyday.
Holding a BFA in Drawing from the Alberta University of the Arts in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), Kablusiak has been awarded the 2020 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award, the 2019 Sobey Art Award (shortlist) representing the Prairies and the North, the 2021 and 2023 (shortlist) Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, the 2023 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award, the Gattuso Prize, and the 2023 winner of the prestigious Sobey Art Award.
Kablusiak’s recognition has extended the boundaries of the exhibition space, and their work has been collected widely; most notably the Indigenous Art Centre (CIRNAC), the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Walter Phillips Gallery (Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity), The Image Centre, Global Affairs Canada Visual Art Collection, WAG-Qaumajuq, Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Glenbow Museum, to name a few.
Discover the work of Kablusiak and 14 prolific artists exploring themes of Inuit gender and sexuality in this exhibition at @artscourt — 🔗 link in bio for more information.
Catching your Eye with my visage to share that it is #UBCgivingday and if you want to support Indigenous artists please consider donating to support the Indigenous Art Intensive. I participated in this program in 2022 and it was beautiful and transformative and helped me both in my practice, and also allowed me to process my grief following my dad’s passing to the spirit world. @indigenous_art_ubc@willardart Tania is a gift to this world and I hope the IAI program keeps running strong 💜💪🏽🎨🖼️✊🏽
