Sharni Pootoogook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharni Pootoogook
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| Born | 1922 Cape Dorset (Kinngait), Canada
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| Died | 2003 (aged 80–81) |
Sharni Pootoogook (1922–2003) was a talented Inuit artist. She was known for her amazing printmaking. Sharni lived in Cape Dorset, which is in Nunavut, Canada.
Her Early Life
Sharni Pootoogook was born in 1922 in Cape Dorset, also known as Kinngait. She grew up with her family there. Her brother, Pauta Saila, also became a very famous artist, known for his sculptures.
Her Artistic Career
Sharni mostly worked in printmaking. This is a special way of making art by pressing images onto paper. She was an important part of the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. This cooperative was a place where Inuit artists could work together and share their art with the world.
Sharni's artwork is special because of its soft colors. She often used playful designs, called whimsical motifs. Her prints also had strong, clear lines. These features made her art unique and easily recognizable.
Where You Can See Her Art
Sharni Pootoogook's art is so important that it is kept in many museums. People can see her work in places like the British Museum and the National Gallery of Canada. Her prints are also displayed at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Other places that cherish her art include the Confederation Centre of the Arts, the Dennos Museum Center, the Red Deer and District Museum and Archives, the Simon Fraser Gallery, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum London, the Textile Museum of Canada, the Canada Council Art Bank, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the RISD Museum, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
Her Family and Legacy
Sharni was married to Pudlat Pootoogook (1919–1985). He was also a well-known artist who created carvings and graphic art. Art ran in her family! Her daughter, Sarah Putuguk, is also a printmaker. Her adopted son, Elijah Pootoogook, is both a graphic artist and a carver. Sharni was also related to another famous artist, Kananginak Pootoogook, who was her brother-in-law.
