Markusie Papigatok

Inuit

1976 -

Markusie Papigatok is a well recognized carver based in Kinngait, Nunavut. He was born in Puvirnituq Nunavuk, Quebec.

Markusie Papigatok started carving as a teenager and he sold his first carving (a seal) for $2.00. His parents, Tayarak Papigatuk and Kumaajuk Tunnillie, and as well his grand-parents Qavaroak Tunnillie and Tayaraq Pee were all accomplished carvers in (Kinngait) Cape Dorset. Like traditional education way among Inuit, he learned how to carve by his own watching his uncle Ashevak Tunnillie, a great-master carver well-known for his large scale walking polar bears.

Markusie Papigatok has become a prolific artist and often carves small-scale sculpture made out of serpentine using both power and tools. He likes the speed of grinding with a power grinder. He depicts a variety of subject matter with great detail and especially likes to depict animals in his work. Mid-size dancing bears are his favourite theme which he treats in movement with a characteristic roundness and softness for our best pleasure. His work has been regularly exhibited since the 1900's in Canada, United States, Germany, and Switzerland.

His work is continuously featured in the Canadian Art Gallery in Basel, Switzerland, and can be found in the public collections of the Musee d’art Inuit Brousseau in Quebec City, QC, and the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa, ON, among others.