Helen Kalvak (1901-1984)

Helen Kalvak, CM, RCA, was an Inuinnait graphic artist who lived the majority of her life on the land of Kitlineq, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT, before being relocated to Ulukhaqtuuq, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT, in 1960. Kalvak’s knowledge of Inuit oral history, spirituality and traditional life served as inspiration throughout her career.

Kalvak was a prolific artist, producing thousands of drawings throughout a career which only began in her 60s. As a founding member of the Ulukhaktok Arts Centre in 1961, over 150 of Kalvak’s drawings were turned into prints released in the annual print collections between 1965 and 1985, representing the largest body of work published by an Ulukhaqtuuq artist. Kalvak’s art offers a vivid insight into Inuit traditions and spiritual practices drawn from her personal experiences with spirituality and living on the land. Kalvak’s drawings often chronicled oral histories in visual form on paper, referencing Inuit legends and stories as in her drawing Shaman with Man and Bear (1971). Her dynamic compositions capture pivotal moments of action, portraying figures in fluid motion. Kalvak’s works often feature organic shapes in bold, solid blocks of colour, which translate well from drawing to print.

Her first print retrospective was held at La Guilde (Canadian Guild of Crafts) in Montreal, QC, in 1968 followed by an exhibition of her drawings two years later. Kalvak's work has been featured in many exhibitions, notably The Coming and Going of the Shaman (1978) and The Inuit Amautik (1980), both held at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Manitoba. In 1975, she was elected as a Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978. Kalvak’s prints are part of numerous collections including the TD Art Collection, the Canadian Museum of History, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq. As a major figure and leader in Ulukhaqtuuq, in 1986 the local school was renamed the Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School in her honour after her passing in 1984. Source