Preview the New Craft Ontario Gallery at 401 Richmond

The new Craft Ontario Gallery location at 401 Richmond Street, Toronto, has opened for the public to preview the space as of July, 2025, with a display of Inuit sculpture and textile work! This installation will be on view until August 9, followed by the next curated exhibition. The current installation features works by several Inuit artists; woven tapestries from Pangnirtung, embroidered felt wall hangings from Baker Lake, and stone sculpture from various communities across the North.

Early Baker Lake Wall Hangings often depicted rows of single figures framed by a border. After 1980, the imagery was focussed in the centre and depicted with large, colourful shapes. The fully developed borders added to the narrative content. The wall hangings in the Craft Ontario Gallery are all by Irene Avalaaqiaq. Irene uses a distinctive zigzag backstitch or detached chain stitches, often to create rays of sunlight, or willow twigs – the latter is particularly significant since her name, Avaalaaqiaq, means “willow” in Inuktitut.

Irene Avaalaaqiaq lived her childhood on the land, and later settled permanently in Qamani’tuaq. Irene began her artistic career by creating small sculptures and drawings during the 1960s. Eventually, she joined the local printmaking studio, not just to create her own images but also to print them herself. She is, however, best known for her unique style as a textile artist. Working with appliqué and embroidery, Irene creates a world filled with spirits and transformations, often based on stories and legends passed on from her grandmother.

Pangnirtung Tapestries are characterized by a unique collaboration between artist and weaver. The images used in the tapestries begin as drawings commissioned from local artists. These are interpreted by the weaver, who will select the size, colour and composition of the image as it will be expressed in wool fibre. The weaver may refer back to the artist for confirmation, but will make the critical artistic choices which will determine the final appearance of the tapestry. 

 

Serpentine and soapstone carvings in the gallery include woks by Pitsiulaq (Pitseolak) Qimirpik (Kinngait), Kupapik Ningeocheak (Kup) (Sanikilauq), Joanasie Manning (Kinngait), Kakee (Peter) Ningeosiak (Kinngait), and Toonoo Sharky (Kinngait). Works by Sharky are particularly striking - like the rolling model racecar in this display, axels formed from ivory - he believes that his style evolved naturally from watching his grandfather, Quppapil Ragee, from whom he learned his land skills.