Description
Jessie Oonark
Baker Lake, Nunavut
1906–1985
Jessie Oonark was one of the most influential Inuit artists associated with the development of contemporary art in Baker Lake. Beginning her artistic career in the late 1950s, she developed a distinctive visual language centered on stylized human figures, patterned clothing, and strong symmetrical compositions.
Her imagery often reflects memories of traditional Inuit life, particularly the importance of family, community, and clothing traditions. Figures—frequently women in elaborately patterned parkas—are arranged in rhythmic groupings that emphasize repetition, balance, and decorative structure. Pattern plays a central role in her work, functioning not only as surface design but as a key element of the composition itself.
Oonark worked across several mediums, including drawing, printmaking, and the celebrated wool wall hangings produced in Baker Lake. Her designs helped define the graphic character of the region’s artistic output during its formative years.
Widely exhibited and collected, Jessie Oonark’s work holds an important place in the history of Inuit art. Her prints are valued for their strong visual identity and their connection to the development of Baker Lake’s distinctive artistic tradition.
Inuit art limited edition print from 1983.
Baker Lake, Nunavut artist Jessie Oonark
