OHITO ASHOONA (b. 1952)

Ohito Ashoona is a stone carver from Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Nunavut, who coms from a long line of prominent Inuit carvers. Ohito spent his youth in an outpost camp near Cape Dorset, living in the traditional way of life as his ancestors before him, which gave him a strong tie to the land and animals.

With the combination of family knowledge and skill of carving passed down to him and his traditional upbringing, Ohito was able to obtain an innate connection to Inuit spirituality and beliefs and a respect for arctic wildlife. These themes appear heavily in Ohito’s work, where animals are treated intimately and stylized with warmth and curiosity. Multiple figures, imaginative scenes and relationships between figures and animals are other themes the artist is known for.

Ohito earned the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2002 for his excellence in carving. His work has been exhibited widely across Canada and abroad. Ohito’s works are a part of the public collection of institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON, the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.