This whimsical small sculpture depicts the head and torso of a polar bear, an unusual subject for Kenojuak. It is bursting with personality, the head tilted, the mouth seeming to open in a smile. The placement of the swinging arms suggest that the bear is dancing. Perhaps it was carved from a leftover piece of stone, its form naturally dictating the subject and pose. At any rate, the sculpture's undeniable charm makes it a delightful and rare treasure. Created in the early 1960s, this work was selected by Terry Ryan, the then-manager of the Cape Dorset Co-op, for his personal collection.

References: For other sculptures by Kenojuak from the 1960s see First Arts, 5 December 2022, Lot 39; First Arts, 4 December 2023, Lots 8 and 30; First Arts, 10 June 2024, Lot 82. See also the section on Kenojuak’s sculptures in Jean Blodgett, Kenojuak, (Toronto: Firefly Books / Mintmark Press Ltd., 1985), pp. 67-72.