Josie Pamiutu Papialuk
(1918–)
(–1996)
Josie Pamiutu Papialuk
1918–1996
Josie Pamiutu Papialuk (1918–1996), also known as Josie Paperk or Puppy, was a sculptor and graphic artist born in the Issuksiuvit Lake area near Puvirnituq, Nunavik, Quebec. One of the first artists to experiment with printmaking at the Povungnituk Print Shop, Josie’s work is recognizable due to his unique use of undulating lines and other graphic patterns to represent otherwise invisible elements of nature including wind, weather, voices, birdsong, and thoughts. His prints were regularly featured in the Annual Povungnituk Print Collection between 1962 and 1989. Josie’s brother Isah Papialuk is also an artist.
Josie began creating small soapstone carvings in his forties with encouragement from missionary Father Steinmann. The subjects of his sculptures included small birds, fish, and human heads. Later, Josie began experimenting with stonecut prints before focusing on drawing using felt markers, crayons, and pencil crayons. His drawings, prints, and sculptures capture daily life in a gentle and humorous way, illustrating personal experience rather than traditional Inuit stories which were the focus of many other graphic artists in Puvirnituq.
Josie’s work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions in Canada, the United States, and Europe since 1962, including The Inuit Print/L’estampe inuit, a touring exhibition on view from 1977 to 1982 organized by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau. His prints, drawings, and sculptures can also be found in collections at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, the British Museum, London, UK, the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, the Glenbow Museum, Calgary, the Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, among others.