We are thrilled to share the news of Shuvinai Ashoona being honoured with the Governor General’s Awards in Visual Arts, a testament to her remarkable impact on Canadian art. Shuvinai’s unique talent for blending vivid storytelling with elements of fantasy, realism, and nostalgia have rightfully earned her this esteemed recognition, the highest honour for visual and media arts in Canada. This award not only acknowledges Shuvinai’s exceptional contributions to the art world but also highlights the significance of Inuit perspectives within the global art dialogue.

Renowned for her expansive drawings, mysterious themes, and collaborations with contemporary artists, Shuvinai Ashoona (b.1961) represents the third generation of Inuit artists from Kinngait, Nunavut. Her artwork captures the profound transformations in the North, from traditional land-based living to established communities and the influx of popular culture, challenging conventional views of Inuit art. Ashoona’s ever-evolving portfolio has been showcased in biennales and exhibitions both in Canada and around the world.

About the Artist:
The dynamic compositions of Shuvinai Ashoona (b. 1961) depict human figures, transformations, and imaginary beings with cleverly hidden imagery using a wide colour spectrum.

Ashoona began to draw in the early 1990s. Though never formally trained, Ashoona’s family and the Kinngait Studios provided her with a creative atmosphere. Her drawings are often a combination of reality and imagination in which she creates her own abstract outlook on life in the North.

Through fearless experimentation, Ashoona’s inventive drawings are consistently at the forefront of contemporary art. In 2018, Ashoona won the coveted Gershon Iskowitz Prize which is awarded annually to a remarkable contemporary Canadian artist. Her work is regularly shown in exhibitions, biennials, and public collections around the world.

To view available artworks by Shuvinai Ashoon, click here.