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Davidialuk (1910–1976) was an Inuit sculptor, graphic artist, and printmaker. He was born in Nunagiirniraq camp in Nunavik, Quebec, and later lived and worked in the artistic community in Puvirnituq. Working across a diverse set of mediums, Davidialuk was known for his storytelling and the way that he incorporated traditional Nunavik myths and legends into his expressive works.

Following an economic crisis that impacted fur trade prices in 1951, Davidialuk moved to the recently established settlement of Puvirnituq and began his artistic career as a carver, working with stone, ivory, and wood. As he developed his practice he also began drawing, eventually moving towards printmaking in the 1970s. His drawings and prints were included in nearly every release of the Povungnituk Annual Print Collection between 1962 and 1982.

Davidialuk was a widely respected storyteller focused on keeping Nunavik myths and legends alive. Traditional stories, along with myths of his own creation, were the inspiration for his artwork. He rendered these traditional myths and legends in new and creative ways, blurring the lines between myth and personal anecdote. Beyond his mythical subject matter, Davidialuk also explored stories of tragedy and survival based on the difficult realities of living on the land. Taken together, his work represents a visual record of Inuit oral tradition.

Syollie Awp, Davidialuk’s brother and a carver and printmaker in his own right, recorded Davidialuk while he recounted stories and legends, replaying them in the local print shop to inspire other artists. Davidialuk’s cousin, Joe Talirunili, was also an artist, and the pair often worked in tandem, both beginning their careers in carving and later exploring the graphic arts.

Davidialuk’s work has been included in many exhibitions across Canada, and his sculptures, drawings, and prints are held in many permanent collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, the Glenbow Museum, Calgary, the Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, and the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, among others.