The adopted son of the famous graphic artists Parr and Eleeshushe, Nuna Parr is among the most popular and successful Inuit wildlife artists of the past forty years. While many of Nuna’s early works featured depictions of falcons and owls, in the last couple of decades the sculptor has limited himself almost exclusively to walrus or polar bears. Whether in lifelike poses such as this scenting bear or in gravity defying dance contortions, Nuna’s works are instantly identifiable and approachable. Walking Bear is a particularly fine example of his style. Stripped down to essential curves and angles and slightly foreshortened, the sculpture has a bold modernist look about it.

References: See Jennifer Cartwright, “Nuna Parr: A Hunter’s Perspective” in Inuit Art Quarterly (Fall 2002), pp. 20-22. See also Amway Environmental Foundation, Masters of the Arctic: Art In The Service Of The Earth (Ada, MI: Amway Environmental Foundation, 1990), pp. 19,33,41.