Winnie Tatya, born in the Garry Lake area, moved to Qamani'tuaq (Baker Lake) in the late 1960s, where she became a key figure in the early development of its now-renowned art movement. Her contributions helped establish the region as a vibrant hub for Inuit art. Initially exploring drawing, in the early 1970s, Tatya transitioned to creating striking works on cloth, a medium that now defines much of her artistic legacy.

In this early work, figures are arranged in rhythmic rows, their synchronized poses and gestures conveying a quiet yet powerful celebration of connection. Standing upon each other, the repetition is mesmerizing, the symmetry comforting. Set against the stark black stroud ground—a space that feels both like a void and a canvas—the colours emerge with vitality: ivory, burgundy, beige. These hues alternate with a deliberate cadence, like the pulse of a heartbeat, subtle yet deeply expressive. Tatya’s skilled hand controls what we see of this work: the forms themselves are carefully cut out and subtly stitched down, and while they sport simple stitched faces, the expressions shift with the fabric and the viewer’s glance giving a final hint of life in the still felt.