Luke Anguhadluq

(1895 – 1982)

Luke Anguhadluq was born in 1895 in a camp near Chantrey Inlet, north of Baker Lake, the community he would later call home. Up until the early sixties, Luke lived a traditional, semi-nomadic way of life on the land. He settled in the community of Baker Lake with his wife, Marion Tuu’luq, and began drawing in 1968, at the age of 73. Luke soon started contributing images to be transformed into prints when the printmaking program was introduced to the community in 1969. Many of Luke’s drawings depicted subjects influenced by his many years living on the land. Drum dancers and rituals, hunters in kayaks and caribou were common themes in his work. Stylistically, Luke demonstrated a staunch economy of line, preferring to suggest forms and subjects instead of articulating them definitively, and distorting or repeating forms for visual effects. Luke’s wife, Marion, became a well-known textile and graphic artist, and his sons, Thomas Iksiraq and Barnabus Oosuaq, became printmakers with the studio. In 1982, at the age of 87, Luke passed away, leaving behind an incredible legacy despite his brief career. As per his wishes, Luke’s casket was brought by dogsled to one of his favourite hills on the land where he spent many hours over the years watching for caribou.