Description
Ruth Annaqtuusi Tulurialik
Baker Lake (1934–2022)
Ruth Annaqtuusi Tularialik was one of Baker Lake’s most celebrated graphic artists, renowned for her imaginative drawings, vibrant colour palettes, and powerful visual storytelling. Born near the Kazan River in what is now Nunavut and raised in Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), Tulurialik began drawing in the late 1960s after encouragement from fellow Baker Lake artist Jessie Oonark. She soon became a regular contributor to the acclaimed annual Baker Lake print collections.
Drawing from Inuit oral traditions, personal memories, and life on the land, Tulurialik created richly detailed compositions populated by Arctic animals, hunters, shamans, spirits, and transformational beings. Her work is distinguished by its expressive energy, inventive imagery, and ability to blend everyday experiences with stories passed down through generations.
In addition to her artistic practice, Tulurialik was a respected singer and storyteller. Her illustrations and recollections were published in Qikaaluktut: Images of Inuit Life (1986), a landmark collaboration with northern author David F. Pelly that preserved and shared Inuit cultural knowledge.
Today, Ruth Annaqtuusi Tulurialik’s works are held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, securing her place among the most important Inuit artists of her generation.
