Jackoposie became an ivory carver at a young age in his native Pangnirtung, then studied jewellery making after settling in Iqaluit in the early 1970s. Although he produced some works in stone, Jackoposie preferred to work almost exclusively in organic materials: antler, bone, and ivory. His most famous opus, Nunali, one of several astonishing full-rack caribou antler compositions he created in his lifetime, has been on frequent public display at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Like many of Jackoposie’s “totemic” walrus tusk compositions, this exceptional example features stacked animal and hunting imagery. Oopakak’s particular genius is his remarkable use of negative space, giving each figure or object its own fully realized sculptural presence.

References: For spectacular works by the artist in bone and antler, see First Arts, 1 December 2020, Lot 156, and First Arts, 5 December 2022, Lot 47.