Biographical Information
Eli Nasogaluak ~ [20th Century] Inuit
For Inuvialuk Artist Eli Nasogaluak, culture and life changes have inspired and played an important part of his artistic development. Eli was born in Tuktoyaktuk on the coast of the Beaufort Sea in Canada's Western Arctic during a time of great transition for his people. Eli remembers fondly the time when Tuk was a small community that was still preoccupied with the pursuit of hunting, gathering, trapping and fishing. As Eli grew up the coming of settled communities in the Western Arctic where formal education, nursing station, stores, post office, water and sewer services and all the amenities of southern communities were becoming the norm. His parents lived the more nomadic life style of Eli's Inuvialuit ancestors where life meant moving with the seasons to find food and shelter as required. For his parents, settling in Tuk was done as much to accommodate the changing expectations and needs of their children as it was for the rich hunting, fishing, and trapping offered in the area. Through all of the social changes Eli remained determined to look after his family and eventually with the encouragement of his brothers Joe and Bill, who are well known northern Artists, Eli began to exhibit his art works. Eli carves in his own unique style that shows many interesting Inuvialuit cultural practices and legends as well as contemporary works. Eli is also very talented at drawing. While growing up Eli enjoyed to draw and watch other artists. He developed a keen interest in drawing animals, comic book heroes and developed excellent skills in drawing body builders resulting in Eli's work exhibiting the fine detail of anatomy in his sculptures of people. Eli's art has been exhibited at prominent exhibits including the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and Spirits in the Sun '98 in Phoenix, Arizona as well as the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik. Eli's carvings are sought after by private and corporate collectors worldwide. Eli has collaborated with other artists to carve two monumental sculptures in marble. One in the visitor's centre in Inuvik, and one in the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife, with a bronze copy placed outdoors at Makavoy Rock in Yellowknife. Most recently as part of his increasing presence in the artistic world, Eli has taken on the challenges of monumental ice and snow sculpting. He has exhibited overseas in Brugge, Belgium in a major ice and snow festival, collaborating with other professional international sculptors. In the year 2000, along with his brothers Bill and Joe, Eli has teamed together to represent the NWT in the Canadian Snow Sculpting Championship. Their wins have been impressive, capturing the Artist Choice Award and second place finish in 2000, second place finish in 2001, and the Artist Choice Award and also the Championship in 2002quality and a keen eye to detail. Eli currently lives in Yellowknife, NT where he is working as a full time Artist.

Historical Results for this Artist