Born in Ikirasaq and based in Kinngait, Kellypalik Qimirpik first learned to carve as a teenager from his brother Allashua Atsiaq. He soon developed a signature style and flare in his work, specifically for his almost gravity-defying bears;  rotund and generally voluminous, his dancing bears in particular have a great sense of both literal and aesthetic balance. 

Some will recognize Kellypalik's name for his work right here in the city, as in 2002 he was involved in a large sculptural project in Toronto's Inukshuk Park (formerly Battery Park). He created a 30-foot high inukshuk sculpture that was installed to commemorate World Youth Day and the visit of Pope John Paul II to Toronto. Carved from 50 tonnes of Ontarian rose granite, Kellypalik designed and created the work himself, with the final sculpture considered to be one of the largest of its kind in North America.