Samwillie Niviaxie
(1923–)
Samwillie Niviaxie
1923–
Samwilie Niviaxie (1923– ) is an Inuit sculptor and carver born at Hopewell Narrow’s Camp near Inukjuak, Nunavik, Quebec. Samwillie comes from a family of artists and makers. His father was a woodworker who built boats in Kuujjuarapik, and his siblings Adamie Niviaxie, Jeremiah Niviaxie, Davidee Niviaxie, and Nellie Nastapoka are all involved in the arts and crafts industry in Inukjuak. Further, his brothers Silassie Niviaxie and Joseph Niviaxie are carvers in Kuujjuarapik.
Samwillie’s work has been included in exhibitions such as Major/Minor at Marion Scott Gallery, Vancouver, in 1996 and Kunstwerke der Inuit, presented by CreArtion, Eppstein, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association of Canadian Studies in 1993. His work can be found in the permanent collection at the McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton, the Remai Modern, Saskatoon, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, and the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa.