Abraham Anghik Ruben facts for kids

Abraham Anghik Ruben (born in 1951) is a famous Canadian sculptor. He is from the Inuvialuit people and also has Yup'ik family roots.

He was born near Paulatuk in the Northwest Territories, Canada. In 2016, he received the Order of Canada, a high honor. Today, he lives and works on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.

Early Life in the North

Abraham Anghik Ruben was born on November 26, 1951. His family was at their winter camp near Paulatuk. For many years, Ruben lived a traditional Inuvialuit life. His family moved between seasonal camps for fishing and hunting. They mostly ate caribou, moose, and other animals.

In 1955, when Ruben was four, his older brother David and sister Martha were sent away. They went to a residential school in Aklavik. They did not see their family again until 1958. Ruben later made a sculpture called The Last Goodbye about this sad time.

In 1959, Ruben and his other siblings also went to a residential school. He lived there for eleven years, until 1970.

Becoming an Artist

In 1971, Ruben started studying art. He learned from Ronald Senungetuk, an Iñupiat artist. Senungetuk was the head of the Native Arts Centre at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. There, Ruben learned how to mix old traditions with new ideas in his art. He studied there again from 1974 to 1975.

Ruben met art dealer Jack Pollock in the 1970s. Pollock helped show Ruben's art in Toronto. Ruben had his first art shows at The Pollock Gallery from 1977 to 1980. Pollock called him a "contemporary sculptor with Inuit ancestry."

In 1989, an art show called "Out of Tradition" featured Ruben's art. It also showed art by his brother, David Ruben Piqtoukun. This show traveled across Canada's north.

Ruben's Art and Inspiration

Ruben uses many materials for his sculptures. These include stone and bronze. His art often shows the traditional teachings of his Inuvialuit family and friends.

After battling cancer in 2004, Ruben's art changed. He became interested in the history of the Inuit and Norse Vikings. These groups met long ago, between the 900s and 1400s. Ruben was inspired by his aunt, Paniabuluk. She was an Inuit woman who helped explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson.

Ruben has studied cultures from around the Arctic. This includes places like Siberia, Scandinavia, and Greenland. He found that Inuit stories and myths are similar to those from other northern cultures. He shows these connections in his art.

In his sculpture Shaman Beckoning Spirits, Ruben showed how Christianity changed the role of the Shaman. Shamans were once powerful leaders.

Ruben works with many types of stone. He uses soapstone from different countries and Italian marble. Some of his biggest sculptures weigh tons. He often includes images and themes from Viking and Norse stories. Since 2007, his art has been shown at the Kipling Gallery in Woodbridge, Ontario.

On Saltspring Island, Ruben works on many pieces at once. In 2016, he was working on a four-ton limestone sculpture. It showed a mother bear and two cubs.

Documentary About Ruben

In 2007, a short documentary was made about Abraham Anghik Ruben. It was part of a TV series called "From the Spirit."

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Ruben's art has been shown in many places. He had solo shows in New York in 1980 and Vancouver in 1981. In the 1990s, he had shows in Santa Fe and New York again. He also had a bronze art show in Toronto in 1994.

In the 2000s, he had a big show at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. He also had three solo shows in Idaho. In 2010, his show "Abraham Anghik Ruben: Shaman's Dreams" was held in Mississauga.

In 2012, a major exhibition called "Arctic Journeys/Ancient Memories" was organized. It showed 23 large sculptures by Ruben. This exhibition was at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Over 500,000 people saw it. His sculptures in this show told stories from Viking Norse and Inuit myths. The exhibition then traveled to the Art Gallery of Algoma in Canada.

From 2014 to 2015, his show "Moving Forward: Breaking Through" was in Switzerland. It focused on the idea of migration. It showed how Inuit and Vikings had similar views.

In 2015–2016, "Aurora Borealis: Abraham Anghik Ruben" was shown in Yellowknife. Three of his bronze sculptures were even shown at the Louvre in Paris.

In 2018, art by Ruben and his brother Piqtoukun was shown at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Where to Find His Art

Ruben's sculptures are in many public art galleries and museums. Some of these include:

• The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian
• The National Gallery of Canada
• The Canadian Museum of Civilization
• The Art Gallery of Ontario
• The Winnipeg Art Gallery
• The Museum Cerny Inuit Collection in Switzerland

Awards and Honors

Abraham Anghik Ruben was named an Officer of the Order of Canada on November 17, 2016. This honor was given for his amazing art and for helping to preserve Inuvialuit culture.

Personal Life

Since 1986, Ruben has lived on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. He lives there with his wife, Patricia Donnelly. Their son Timothy was born in 1987.