20" Stunning Last Caribou by the Late Legendary Axangayuk Shaa (1937-2019)

20" Stunning Last Caribou by the Late Legendary Axangayuk Shaa (1937-2019)

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Axangayuk Shaa

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Inuit art: Caribou
Inuit Artist: Axangayuk Shaa
Size: ­­­­20" across (15" long), 18" high (with antlers), 33 lbs.
Community: Cape Dorset, NU
Stone: Serpentine
id: j-60809hjjjy

Provenance February, 2021 - We had the fortune of getting the very last caribou by master carver Axangayuk Shaa. Sadly, during these times, it came from a gallery that had to close their doors due to the closed borders and lack of tourists. This caribou is from 2014.

It the very last caribou. The last time we received one was 2 years ago just after he past away. It goes without saying that this is an investment piece that will appreciate in value immensely. We have two of his caribou in our own personal collection.

For the last 65 years, legendary Master Carver Axangayuk Shaa has brought joy and wonder to the hearts of Inuit art aficionados. The Dancing Walrus has become synonymous with his name.

A few weeks ago Axangayuk passed away and the world lost one of the great Inuit carvers of modern times. His creatures were robust and often imaged with theatrical flair. 

Around the world, his works were greatly respected and revered.
We will miss his spirit and cherish his art.

Museum quality sculpture!
This caribou is one of Axangayuk's is a beautiful representation of Shaa's world famous pieces. The terse line, the oppulant classic green serpentine stone, the timid grace and delicate stance all play into what makes this an extroardinary piece. One of Axangayuks finest. And is his last.

When I initially saw this piece, my heart skipped a beat. Not only is this one of the larger caribous I've ever seen by Axangayuk Shaa, but the lines and curvatures are absolutely perfect. The sophistication of the classic green stone transcends a peaceful sentiment to its immediate surroundings.

This piece is so fluid, that the movements alone almost want to make it jump A center piece for our art gallery.


Axangayu Shaa (1935 - ) Axangayu Shaa (1935 - )

"A grandson of the carver Kiakshuk and the only child of artists Paunichea and Munamee Davidee, Aqjangajuk began carving at the age of seventeen. He participated in the early drawing projects of Cape Dorset but realized his strengths lay in sculpture and did not draw after 1970. Only one graphic by him, Wounded Caribou, was ever released, in the 1961 Cape Dorset annual print collection. His work was in the famous 1971-73 touring exhibition "Sculpture/Inuit. Sculpture of the Inuit: Masterworks of the Canadian Arctic". Since 1970, he has had 11 solo exhibitions, as well as appearing in many group shows, and his work is in many major museum collections, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York." - from "Cape Dorset Sculpture", Douglas & McIntyre, 2005
Axangayuk Shaa was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2003. Academicians are elected to membership of the RCA on the basis of their significant body of work that has been recognized by their peers in the discipline of their choice for its excellence and innovation. Candidates are nominated and brought forward by seven RCA members in good standing for review by the Membership Committee, which is a multi-discipline body representing all regions of Canada.

Exhibitions:
1981 The Inuit Sea Goddess. Surrey Art Gallery. Vancouver, British Columbia
1981 Cape Dorset Sculptors and Their Sculpture. The Inuit Art Collector. Mr. & Mrs. James F. Bacon. Manchester, Connecticut. USA
1981 The Jacqui and Morris Shumiatcher Collection
1980 Four Sculptors from Baffin Island. Upstairs Gallery. Winnipeg, Manitoba
1980 Waddington's Inuit Auction. Waddington Galleries. Toronto, Ontario
1980 1980 Canadian Eskimo Art: Carvings, Cape Dorset Prints with sculptures by Axangayu. Franz Bader Gallery. Washington, D.C. USA
1980 The Klamer Family Collection of Inuit Art from the Art Gallery of Ontario. University of Guelph. Guelph, Ontario
1980 First Annual Collectors' Invitational Exhibition. Eskimo Art. San Fransico, California
1980 Collector's Choice. Waddington Galleries. Toronto, Ontario
1980 Cape Dorset. Winnipeg Art Gallery. Winnipeg, Manitoba
1979 Sculpture of the Inuit: Masterwork Exhibitors of the Canadian Arctic. Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. Vancouver, British Columbia
1979 Exhibition and Sale of Musk-Oxen & Bears. Cottage Craft Gifts & Fine Arts Ltd. Calgary, Alberta
1979 Die Kunst der Arktis. Villa Waldrich, Siegen, Germany. Inuit Galerie. Mannheim, West Germany
1977-1982 The Inuit Print. National Museum of Man, and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Ottawa, Ontario
1977 Kaka and Axangayuk. Gallery Shop. London Public Library. London, Ontario
1975 Cape Dorset/Selected Sculpture from the Collection of W.A.G.. Winnipeg Art Gallery. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1974 Eskimo Art. Queens Museum. Flushing, New York, USA
1974 Eskimo Stone Sculpture, featuring Azangayuk, Johnniebo, Kenojuak. Arctic Circle. Los Angeles, California. USA
1974 Inuit Sculpture 1974. Lippel Gallery. Montreal, Quebec
1974 Cape Dorset Sculpture. Canadian Guild of Crafts Quebec. Montreal, Quebec
1972 Eskimo Fantastic Art. Gallery 111, School of Art. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1971-1973 Sculpture/Inuit: Masterworks of the Canadian Arctic. Canadian Eskimo Arts Council. Ottawa, Ontario
1971 The Art of the Eskimo, Simon Fraser Gallery, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia
1970 Mythology in Stone. Canadian Guild of Crafts Quebec. Montreal, Quebec
1969 Eskimo Sculpture '69. Robertson Galleries. Ottawa, Ontario
1967 Eskimo Sculpture. Winnipeg Art Gallery presented at the Manitoba Legislative Building. Winnipeg, Manitoba
1966 Major Eskimo Sculpture- Cape Dorset, Isaacs Gallery. Toronto, Ontario
1961 Cape Dorset Graphics
PROUDLY CANADIAN SINCE 2008

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