As is unfortunately the case with so many Salluit artists, virtually nothing is known about the life of Maggie Ittuvik Tayarak. Born in 1898, she probably began carving in the early-mid 1950s. She was likely not prolific, as only a handful of her works have been documented. We know of a fine example (also with beautiful braids) in the Avataq Cultural Institute collection [1], and two excellent pieces in the Winnipeg Art Gallery collection (see references); a very small number have come to auction. In our opinion Mother with Braids and Child easily ranks with the Avataq example and is certainly comparable in quality to important works by Salluit artists such as Mary Sanaaq Papigatok (First Arts, Toronto, 13 July 2021, Lot 41) and Mary Irqiquq Sorusiluk (First Arts, Toronto, 30 November 2021, Lot 57).

As with other masterpieces from the “Salluit School” of sculpture in the mid-late 1950s, Ittuvik’s work exhibits a wonderful sense of monumentality and timelessness. Overall, the sculpture is beautifully proportioned and sensitively carved. The faces are simply but delicately rendered, and the mother’s brushed and braided hair is spectacular. We love the way the folds and pleats of skirt, arms, and amautiq hood are echoed; together with the finer lines of the braids they form a lovely contrast to the broad volumes elsewhere. Mother with Braids and Child is one more superb work from the all-too-brief flowering of Salluit art.

1. See George Swinton, Eskimo Sculpture, 1965, p. 147, and George Swinton, Sculpture of the Inuit, 1992, fig. 408 (updated attributions).

References: For other fine works by the artist see George Swinton, Eskimo Sculpture, (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1965), p. 147, and George Swinton, Sculpture of the Inuit, (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1992), fig. 408 (updated attributions). Also see Bernadette Driscoll, The Inuit Amautik: I Like My Hood To Be Full, (Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1980), cat. 27, p. 53; also illustrated in Darlene Coward Wight, The Jerry Twomey Collection, (Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 2003), p. 40; Art Gallery of Windsor, Sugluk: Sculpture in Stone 1953-1959, (Windsor: Art Gallery of Windsor, 1992), cat. 43, p. 66.