Ruben Komangapik facts for kids

Ruben Komangapik (born in 1976) is an Inuk artist. He is famous for his sculptures, which he makes using many different materials. Ruben is also a musician. He plays traditional Inuit drums and sings. He also plays bass guitar in a heavy metal band called Slayvz. He was born in Iqaluit, and his home community is Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) in northern Canada.

Early Life and Inspiration

Ruben Komangapik's grandparents played a very important part in his childhood. His paternal grandparents, Joshua and Enuya Komangapik, taught him about Inuit customs. They made sure he learned about hunting and life at the family camp. This was alongside his school education in town.

Ruben greatly admired his grandfather Joshua. Joshua could make almost anything by hand, from tools to furniture and sculptures. Ruben remembers sitting with Joshua as he carved. Joshua used materials like ivory, whale bone, copper, and silver. Ruben's interest in art started then. He would borrow his grandfather's tools to make his own toys and small sculptures. Ruben also learned carving from his father, Mikiseetee Komangapik, and in classes with Markoosie Akpaliapik in the 1980s.

Ruben also had a close bond with his maternal grandparents, Hermann and Sophie Steltner. They were German scientists who came to Pond Inlet to study sea ice. They stayed for 25 years and are buried there. In 1989, Ruben moved to Ontario, Canada, with them. He attended Ridley College, a private school.

Becoming an Artist

In 1992, Ruben returned to Pond Inlet. After a year, he joined his mother, Dorothee Komangapik, in Iqaluit. She was teaching at Nunavut Arctic College. Ruben enrolled in the metalwork program there. When his first child was born, he decided to become a full-time artist.

He earned a college certificate in 1995. Then, he completed a diploma in Jewellery and Metalwork in 1997. After college, he taught art workshops in different communities like Sanikiluaq and Iqaluit. He then became a self-employed artist. He has created some very important artworks. These include the Nunavut government's travelling mace, which he made with Mathew Nuqingaq. He also made a Qulliq, which is a traditional seal oil lamp, entirely out of silver. This lamp was given to the Governor General in 1999 to celebrate the creation of Nunavut.

Today, Ruben works from his home studio in Caplan, Québec. He sells his sculptures directly to collectors and through art galleries.

Sharing His Art and Culture

Ruben Komangapik has given workshops at the Great Northern Arts Festival. He teaches stone carving to encourage children and young people to try art. In 2015, he spoke at The Walrus Talks. He shared information about the materials he uses and his favorite subjects. This was also a way for him to share his Inuit culture and stories.

Ruben has won the Artists Choice Awards four times at the Great Northern Arts Festival. In 2016, he was asked to create a sculpture with Koomuatuk Curley at York University. This was part of a project to share Inuit cultural heritage.

Art Exhibitions

Ruben Komangapik's art has been shown in many exhibitions:

• 2017: Canadian Biennial, National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)
• 2011: Contemporary Reflections, The Guild (Montréal, Québec)
• 2008: Spirit Wrestler: Shaman, Sedna and Spirits, Spirit Wrestler Gallery (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Where to Find His Art

You can find Ruben Komangapik's artwork in several important collections:

• The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario
• The Canada Council for the Arts Art Bank in Ottawa, Ontario
• The Canada House Gallery in Banff, Alberta