Pudlo Pudlat
Pudlo Pudlat (1916–1992) was a Canadian Inuit artist whose work depicted aspects of modern life with distinct humour. He is well known for his technique using acrylic wash and coloured pencils.
Pudlo spent most of his life in the Kimmirut region, now known as Nunavut, hunting and fishing to provide for his family. In 1950, he married his wife, artist Innukjuakju Pudlat. Pudlo began his practice as a sculptor although he found it difficult due to a hand injury. Between 1959 and 1960 Pudlo shifted his focus towards drawing. Initially encouraged by James Houston and Terry Ryan of the West Baffin Eskimo Print Co-operative, Pudlo embraced drawing, painting, and printmaking as these methods were introduced in the North.
Pudlo experienced the transformation of the arctic in the 20th Century which influenced how he explored the paradoxes between modern-day life and traditional Inuit culture. He would often travel for medical treatment on airplanes which also influenced his subject matter.
In 1972 one of Pudlo's prints was selected for reproduction on a UNICEF greeting card. His work can be found in multiple public and private collections such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, among many others. Pudlo has also been featured in an extensive list of exhibitions both nationally and internationally. At the time of his death in 1992, Pudlo left a body of work that included 4000 drawings and 200 prints.