April 10 - 30

Born in 1962, Michael Massie, CM, RCA, is a celebrated mixed-media artist based in Newfoundland and Labrador known for his inventive use of materials including silver, stone, antler, wood, and bone. Blending technical mastery with humour and storytelling referencing his Inuit, Métis and Scottish heritage, Massie has become especially recognized for his sculptural teapots, which began as a tribute to his grandmother May.

Each is a deeply personal and often playful work, frequently accompanied by clever, pun-driven titles, such as Massie’s first teapot may-tea (1991), an ode to his grandmother and his Métis heritage.

This collection showcases seven of Massie’s works, all created in the mid-to-late-2000s. Featured in this collection are two works in stone, a striking green serpentine sculpture of an owl and human titled Daydreaming in my Dreams and a finely carved limestone walrus sculpture titled This Way to the Oogli. 

The remaining five works are distinctive teapots, each uniquely crafted from combinations of silver, brass, wood, and antler. These pieces exemplify Massie’s signature approach, transforming a familiar domestic object into sculptural forms that are functional, symbolic, and deeply narrative. Through inventive material pairings and witty titles, these teapots explore themes of identity, memory, and cultural continuity, reinforcing their role as both personal homage and artistic innovation.

Together, these seven artworks highlight Massie’s ability to challenge and expand expectations of Inuit art through innovation and conceptual depth, making this collection a compelling snapshot of an earlier, highly influential chapter in Massie’s artistic journey.