Levi Qumaluk

1919–1997

Levi Qumaluk (1919–1997) was a sculptor and graphic artist born on the Kugoalu River south of Puvirnituq, Nunavik, Quebec. His carvings focus on the Inuit struggle for survival in extreme arctic climates. Common themes in his work include images of the mother and child, hunting narratives, and Inuit legends passed down from his grandfather. Levi used a precise carving technique that resulted in finely rendered details, such as braided hair, textured clothing, and seams. 

One of six brothers, including Jusi, Inukpak, and Tania (the Elder), all of Levi’s siblings took up carving in order to support their families. Levi, however, was the only one who also experimented with printmaking. He was an important figure in the development of the Povungnituk Print Co-operative and would contribute money from his carvings to support the Co-operative and pay the staff in its early years. Levi began producing his own stonecut prints in 1962. His drawings were focused on hunting scenes and camp life, often playing with positive and negative space. Initially, his prints were sporadically Included in the Annual Povungnituk Print Collection, but between 1976 and 1987, his work was included almost every year.

Levi’s prints and sculptures have been exhibited in Canada, the United States, and Europe. They are held in a number of private, public, and corporate collections, including the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, the Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, the Toronto Dominion Bank Collection, and the British Museum, London, UK, among others.

Artworks

Levi Qumaluk
(1919)
(1997)