In his antler sculpture (and to some extent in his graphic art), Iksiktaaryuk’s approach was economical, almost minimalist, yet his works could be highly expressive and quite moving. The artist embraced the materiality of caribou antler and utilized its inherent shapes whenever possible. He also worked in a utilitarian manner, never concealing the simple joinery of a nail or peg, for example. Iksiktaaryuk virtually never carved in stone, and very few examples are known. We wager that this remarkable sculpture, which combines the two materials, is unique. We were tempted to say that Woman looks as if she might have come from one of the artist’s famous drum dance scenes, but figures in those scenes never have pegged arms. But she doesn’t resemble most of his antler standing or walking figures either, for she lacks legs. This “hybrid” figure certainly succeeds as an experimental work, but it is so much more than that; it’s a profoundly moving little masterpiece, an exciting addition to Norman Zepp’s Pure Vision aesthetic canon in Kivalliq art.

References: This hybrid stone/antler work by Iksiktaaryuk is, perhaps, unique. His more typical antler sculptures have been widely published and exhibited, including in Norman Zepp, Pure Vision: The Keewatin Spirit, (Regina: Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, 1986); Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Zazelenchuk Collection of Eskimo Art, (Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1978); Jean Blodgett, The Coming and Going of the Shaman: Eskimo Shamanism and Art, (Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1978); George Swinton, Sculpture of the Inuit, (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1992 edition only); Gerald McMaster, ed., Inuit Modern: The Samuel and Esther Sarick Collection, (Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 2010); Ingo Hessel, Arctic Spirit: Inuit Art from the Albrecht Collection at the Heard Museum, (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre / Phoenix: Heard Museum, 2006); Art Gallery of Ontario, The People Within: Art from Baker Lake, (Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1976). See also First Arts, 12 July 2020, Lot 21; 14 June 2022, Lot 1; 5 Dec. 2022, Lot 63; 4 Dec. 2023, Lot 107.