Mayureak Ashoona facts for kids

Mayureak Ashoona was born on September 27, 1946. Her birth name was Mayureak Petaulassie. She is a talented Inuk artist, famous for her beautiful drawings and prints.

Mayureak Ashoona's art has been shown in many important places. In 2010, her work was part of an art show called Nipirasait: Many Voices Inuit Prints from Cape Dorset. This show was held at the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C.. From 2009 to 2010, she also had art in the Uuturautiit: Cape Dorset Celebrates 50 Years of Printmaking exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada. She was also featured in a book from 1995 called Inuit Women Artists: Voices from Cape Dorset. Today, she lives and creates art near Cape Dorset, Nunavut.

Mayureak Ashoona's Early Life

Mayureak Ashoona grew up living a traditional life on the land. She learned about art from a very young age. Her mother, Sheouak Parr, was also an artist. She was one of the first women to start drawing in the 1950s. Mayureak's father was Agiak Petaulassie, an Anglican minister.

Mayureak began carving and drawing in the 1970s. At that time, she was living in a small camp with her husband, Kaka Ashoona. He was also an artist. Their camp was on the southern coast of Baffin Island. Living there meant they had to be very independent. Mayureak's art helped her pass the time and also provided money for her family.

After Kaka's death in 1996, Mayureak moved back to Cape Dorset, Nunavut. She still lives and works there today.

Exploring Mayureak Ashoona's Art

Mayureak Ashoona mainly creates prints, drawings, and carvings. Her art is very lively and has been recognized all over the world. Her artworks often show nature, using many different styles. These styles range from abstract (which means they don't look exactly like real things) to figural (which means they show real shapes and figures). Her art always shares her unique Inuk perspective.

In 1986, some of her pieces were shown in an exhibit called "Northern Exposure: Inuit Images of Travel" at the Burnaby Art Gallery. She was also one of nine artists featured in the "Isumavut: The Artistic Expression of Nine Cape Dorset Women" exhibition. This show was held at the Canadian Museum of History in Hull, Quebec.

You can find Mayureak Ashoona's artwork in the collections of important places. These include the National Gallery of Canada and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.