David Ruben Piqtoukun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Ruben Piqtoukun
Inuksuk built by David Ruben Piqtoukun in the lobby of the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C.
Born	David Ruben 1950 (age 74–75) Paulatuk, Northwest Territories
Known for	sculptor

David Ruben Piqtoukun ᑎᕕᑎ ᐱᑐᑯ ᕈᐱᐃᓐ (also known as David Ruben) is a famous Inuvialuk (Inuit) artist. He was born in 1950 in a place called Paulatuk, which is in the Northwest Territories of Canada. He is well-known for his incredible sculptures and prints.

About David Ruben Piqtoukun

David Ruben Piqtoukun grew up in a big family with 14 brothers and sisters. He lived a traditional Inuit life when he was very young. When he was five, he went to a special school. Later, in 1972, his brother Abraham Anghik Ruben showed him how to carve stone. David also learned a lot by reading art books.

A person named Dr. Allan Gonor helped him a lot in 1974. Dr. Gonor told David to use the stories he heard from his community in his art. He said, "When you travel north, collect the stories — and from there, you introduce them into your carvings and then you start learning." This advice helped David connect his art to his Inuit roots and identity.

How He Creates His Art

Since 1975, David has been collecting old stories from his ancestors. These stories became a big part of his artwork. They also helped him understand his own history and who he is.

What Kind of Art Does He Make?

David Ruben Piqtoukun creates both sculptures and prints. His sculptures are special because he uses many different materials together. He mixes modern and traditional Inuit art styles to create his own unique vision.

For example, his artwork called The Passage of Time (made in 1999) shows an angakkuq (which is an Inuit shaman or spiritual healer). The shaman looks like a salmon swimming through a hole in a hand. While shamans are often seen in Inuit art, the hand in this sculpture is made of sheet metal. This is different from traditional materials like walrus ivory, antlers from caribou, or soapstone.

David mostly works with stone, but he also makes sculptures by casting metal. Early in his career, he was very interested in the famous French artist Rodin and how he made his sculptures. David even visited Paris to study Rodin's work. Another Inuvialuit artist, Floyd Kuptana, learned sculpting techniques by working with David Ruben.

Where You Can See His Art

David Ruben Piqtoukun's art has been shown in many places. In 1996, he had a special exhibition called Between Two Worlds: Sculpture by David Ruben Piqtoukun at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Manitoba. This show explored how his time at residential school affected his culture.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery also organized another show called Out of Tradition: Abraham Anghik / David Ruben Piqtoukun: a retrospective exhibition. In 2023, the Art Gallery of Ontario had a big show called Radical Remembrance: the sculptures of David Ruben Piqtoukun. This show featured over 60 of his sculptures and focused on his creative use of materials and storytelling. His art has also been part of many group exhibitions in Canada and around the world.

Public Collections

You can find David Ruben Piqtoukun's artwork in many important public art collections. These include:

• The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa
• The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto
• The McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg
• The Winnipeg Art Gallery
• The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
• The Staatliche Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich, Germany

Awards and Honours

David Ruben Piqtoukun has received many special awards and honours for his art:

• 1986: He carved an Inuksuk for the first Native Business Summit in Toronto. An Inuksuk is a stone landmark or cairn built by the Inuit people.
• 1989: He was chosen to be part of UNESCO's Canadian Committee for the World Decade of Cultural Development.
• 2000: He became the first Inuit artist to be elected to the Sculptors' Society of Canada.
• 2022: He won a Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts, which is a very important award for artists in Canada.