Lucy Qinnuayuak, celebrated for her vibrant depictions of birds, brings her signature style to Owl at Daybreak. The composition is both striking and harmonious, capturing the titular owl mid-motion with its wings fully extended, radiating energy and vitality. The bird is rendered by Eegyvudluk Pootoogook in an gorgeous sunny palette: its bright yellow chest and head contrast with the deep ink of its wings and the bold black accents of its feathers and talons.

This radiant use of colour evokes the warmth of dawn and the symmetry of the composition, anchored by the owl’s piercing gaze and balanced wing structure, enhances the work’s commanding yet serene quality.