CULTURAL GROUP:
Inuit

BORN:
October 10, 1974

BIRTHPLACE:
Cape Dorset, Nunavut

Napachie Ashoona comes from a large family of prominent Inuit artists. Both his mother, Sorosiluto, and grandmother, Pitseolak, are printmakers. His father, Kiawak, and his uncle, Kaka, are prominent stone carvers. His brothers, Koomwortok and Namonai, and his sister, Napatchie, are also stone carvers. Napachie grew up watching Kiawak carve, and learned many skills from him. He is a large influence in his work. Napachie often depicts figure in motion, such as hunters or drum dancers. Like his father, Napachie prefers to work with darker shades of serpentine stone. His work has been shown both nationally and internationally in exhibitions such as Miniaturen in Mannheim, Germany, in 1995, Spirit of the Sedna in Toronto, ON, in 1995, Mythic Image in Port Townsend, WA, in 1994, and Inuit Sculpture: New Acquisitions in Boston, MA, in 1992.