La Guilde invites you to discover the work of two Inuit art luminaries: Jessie Oonark and Pudlo Pudlat. Members of Inuit art cooperatives, these artists have forged their own artistic paths outside established iconographic and symbolic expectations.
Inuit art cooperatives emerged in the second half of the 1950s, following the forced sedentarization of Inuit communities. Many artists began their practice there, working in sculpture, drawing or printing techniques. To this day, the art cooperative system plays a fundamental role in the Inuit art landscape, but is increasingly being called into question.
Jessie Oonark hails from Baker Lake and Pudlo Pudlat from Kinngait (Cape Dorset) in Nunavut. These two artists have chosen to represent personal expressions of their realities and imaginaries. Their fascinating works show transitions in their artistic approaches, reflecting both a desire for individuality and a sense of identity.
The Inuit art cooperatives system does not have a straight or simple throughline and is interlaced with colonial structures that were increasingly impacting Inuit during the middle of the twentieth century and onwards. Seventy-five years later, La Guilde finds itself at a complex intersection of the past and present Inuit art market, reflecting on its historical role and examining its responsibilities within the contemporary art economy. Within this ongoing work of questioning and working toward equitable change, and most importantly celebrating the vibrancy and talent of Inuit artists, we invite you to discover this educational exhibition while participating in the evolving conversations around it.