Elisapee Ishulutaq (1925-2018)

Elisapee Ishulutaq (1925–2018) was a self-taught Inuit artist from the seasonal camp of Kagiqtuqjuaq near Pangnirtung (Panniqtuuq), Nunavut, whose work spans drawing, printmaking, tapestry design, and oil stick compositions. She began her artistic career after moving to Pangnirtung in the late 1960s, quickly becoming one of the community’s most active contributors to the annual Pangnirtung print collections and co-founding the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts & Crafts. Ishulutaq’s imagery often pairs memories of traditional life on the land with contemporary themes, using bold compositions and multiple perspectives to convey narrative scenes of Inuit culture and history. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in major institutions such as the National Gallery of Canada, and in 2014 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for her artistic and community contributions.