(1970 – Present, Cree-Metis)

Son of carver Gene Brabant, Jay Brabant is of Cree-Metis descent but having been born in Victoria in 1970, grew up amongst the influence of the Northwest Coast. Jay began carving when he was just twelve years old, having learned coastal design from his father and from first-hand encounters with ancestral objects in museums across Canada and the United States. These experiences have taught Jay many distinct styles, but he prefers working in the stark drama of the Kwakwaka’wakw style. Jay primarily uses hand tools in all of his sculpture, and he has developed a reputation for his particularly clean carvings.