Abraham Pov
(1927–)
(–1994)
Abraham Pov
1927–1994
Abraham Pov, ᐊᐃᐊᔭᑲ ᑕᓕᕈᓂᓕ ᐱᐅᕕ (1927–1994), also known as Abraham Talirunili, was an Inuit sculptor and printmaker born in a small camp south of Puvirnituq, Nunavik, Quebec. He began carving in 1950, shortly after the arrival of James Houston in Puvirnituq. Abraham lived in Inukjuak (Port Harrison), Nunavik, Quebec, for much of his life, working collaboratively on his sculptures with his wife, Alice. While Abraham would carve the piece, Alice would later polish, shine, and add finishing details to the figures. Abraham’s father, Joe Talirunili, sister Sarah Joe Qinnauajuaq, and uncle Davidialuk Ammittu were also carvers.
Despite the fact that Abraham was mainly a sculptor, he also made prints, one of which was featured on a 17 cent Canadian stamp in 1979. His work has been exhibited across Canada in exhibitions such as Early Masters: Inuit Sculpture 1949-1995 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2006. Abraham’s carvings and prints have also been collected by a variety of institutions, including the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, and the Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, among others.