Contemporary Art

Collections

Contemporary Art

The museum actively collects contemporary northern art and craft work and is home to a significant and growing collection of contemporary Canadian Inuit sculptures and prints.

The Robert and Judith Toll collection, founded in 2009 currently includes 130 stone and antler carvings and 67 prints, and will continue to grow through additional gifts. Since 2009 several additional collections have been donated to the museum, including The Harry Z. and Ruth L. Sky collection, the Marcia and Robert Ellis Collections and the Piper collection, given in memory of Winthrop W. Piper, '43.

Other highlights include a large collection of Inupiat caribou skin masks from Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, tupilaks from East Greenland, and a significant collection of Alaskan baleen baskets donated by Marian Powers.

Mother and Child, Bernadette Iguptark Tongelik, Repulse Bay, Nunavut, 1969. Robert and Judith Toll Collection. Photo by Dean Abramson.

Fish Woman, Jessie Oonark, Baker Lake, Nunavut, 1979. Robert and Judith Toll Collection. Photo by Dean Abramson.

Disturbed Hunter, Helen Kalvak, Holman, Northwest Territories, 1973. Gift in Memory of Winthrop W. Piper, 43, from his Inuit Art Collection.

Handstand, unidentified artist, Cape Dorset, Nunavut, 1974. Harry Z. and Ruth L. Sky Collection. Photo by Dean Abramson.

Traditional Woman mask, unidentified Iñupiat artist, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, ca. 1960. Museum Purchase.

Seal/Monster tupilak, East Greenlandic Inuit, Kulusuk Island, Greenland, ca. 1970. Museum Purchase.

Baleen Basket with whale fluke finial, John Hank, Point Hope, Alaska, nd. Gift of Marian Powers.