Artists in Residence at WAG-Qaumajuq

Government of Nunavut partnership brings three Inuit artists to Winnipeg

Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 11, 2025: The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq is pleased to announce the second annual Artist-in-Residency program in collaboration with the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Culture and Heritage. The four-week residency will run from March 7 to April 4, 2025, where three Inuit artists from Nunavut will travel to Winnipeg to participate.

The three artists are Jamesie Itulu (Pond Inlet), Martha Siqiniq Aupaluktuq-Hickes (Baker Lake), and Andrew Palongayak (Gjoa Haven) who were selected by a committee of staff from the Government of Nunavut and WAG-Qaumajuq.

The artists will have daily access to a studio space at WAG-Qaumajuq and to the Gallery’s media arts equipment and facilities to produce work, provide advice, and promote Inuit art from Nunavut. Artists will also have the opportunity to research and learn about the WAG-Qaumajuq collection of Inuit art, as well as the Government of Nunavut’s collection of Inuit art currently housed at the Gallery, and participate in community programming.

This partnership to develop artists’ practices by supporting experimentation without the pressure to present a finished body of new work. The residency is artist-driven and independent, with staff assistance available for community outreach, technical, and logistical support.

This residency program comes at the heels of the annual Government of Nunavut visit to WAG-Qaumajuq between held in January of this year, during which Inuit Heritage and Culture workers from across Nunavut come to the Gallery to attend a series of workshops and to build lasting relationships.

Quick Facts:

• A four-week Artist-in-Residency program in collaboration with the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Culture and Heritage will take place at WAG-Qaumajuq March 7 to April 4, 2025.
• The winners of the residency are Jamesie Itulu, Martha Siqiniq Aupaluktuq-Hickes, and Andrew Palongayak, representing the three regions of Nunavut.
• The three artists were selected from a committee of staff from the Government of Nunavut and WAG-Qaumajuq.
• Artists will have daily access to studio space at WAG-Qaumajuq and to the Gallery’s media arts equipment and facilities to produce work, provide advice, and promote Inuit art from Nunavut. They will also be able to research and learn about the WAG-Qaumajuq collection of Inuit art and the Government of Nunavut’s collection of Inuit art, also housed at the Gallery.

About the Artists:

Jamesie Itulu (Pond Inlet (Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin) Region)
Jamesie is an artist who has been drawing since he was four years old and has dabbled in painting over the years. However, his focus has been on digital illustrations inspired by anime, science fiction, fantasy, prehistory, and nature media. His graphic images and posters were featured in the Nunatsiaq website while he worked for Baffinland Iron Mines. His artwork is also being used for a current ice monitoring project with SmartICE. Jamesie is excited to come to WAG-Qaumajuq to learn about the collection and the Government of Nunavut’s collection of Inuit art and is interested in working alongside artists from the other regions of Nunavut. He plans to do a lot of research and create new work exploring different mediums during the four-week residency.

Martha Siqiniq Aupaluktuq-Hickes (Baker Lake (Kivalliq) Region)
Martha is the daughter of William Aupaluktuq and Nancy Pukingrnak Aupaluktuq (who recently won the Nunavut Commissioner’s Arts Award in 2024), and the granddaughter of Jessie Oonark, a prolific and influential Inuk artist whose wall hangings, prints, and drawings are in major collections around the world. A prolific textile artist herself, Martha creates outerwear (parkas, mitts, crochet hats, kamik) with a particular interest in traditional beadwork on headbands and amauti, according to her “a disappearing skill”. During the residency, Martha is interested in working on several beading projects and would like to expand her knowledge and practice of Inuit printmaking techniques.

Andrew Palongayak (Gjoa Haven (Kitikmeot) Region)
Andrew is a carver who works primarily in stone, whale bone, and caribou antler, but also creates furniture, hunting tools, and jewellery. While he is at the Gallery, he is interested in learning more about Inuit art, as well as art from other cultures, and he looks forward to building new skills as a carver, creating new art in a variety of mediums alongside other artists from across Nunavut.

Quotes:

“It’s wonderful to be welcoming a new group of inspiring artists from Nunavut to WAG-Qaumajuq in Manitoba. Qaumajuq was built to strengthen connections between Canada’s North and South through art and culture and amplify the voices of the artists, and this program allows us to do just that. Thank you to the Government of Nunavut and congratulations to the artists!”

— Stephen Borys, Director & CEO, WAG-Qaumajuq

“Through strategic partnerships between the Government of Nunavut and the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq, we are providing opportunities to Nunavut Inuit artists to foster the growth of Inuit art, culture, and knowledge. We are excited for the talented artists to refine their skills and expand their knowledge in a supportive and dynamic environment. We look forward to Nunavut art being celebrated on a national and international stage.”

— P.J. Akeeagok, Government of Nunavut, Minister of Culture and Heritage

Support

We thank the Government of Nunavut for their ongoing support and partnership with WAG-Qaumajuq.

Associated Links

WAG-Qaumajuq Inuit Art Collection
Government of Nunavut Inuit Art Collection, housed at WAG-Qaumajuq
Nunavut Shines Through Qaumajuq
Gateway to the North
Government of Nunavut and WAG Promoting Inuit Art in Winnipeg

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For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Katryna Barske
Public Relations Officer
Winnipeg Art Gallery
204.789.1295
kbarske@wag.ca

Weichien Chan
Manager, Communications
Government of Nunavut
Department of Culture and Heritage
867-975-5508
CHComms@gov.nu.ca

About Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq
The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq is a cultural advocate using art as a catalyst for change. The Gallery features an impressive collection of over 27,000 artworks spanning centuries, cultures, and media, including the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. Each piece has its own story to tell. Sharing these stories with the world is at the core of WAG-Qaumajuq. This is an engaging, accessible space where visitors can experience art and learning in new ways. Principles of equity, care, trust, and responsibility guide the institution towards meaningful impact and transformation. To learn more, visit wag.ca.

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