Ready to Eat

Taloyoak
Stone, Antler
14" x 9" x 7.5"

This vivid sculpture by Judas Ullulaq captures a moment of animated anticipation. The wide-eyed, open-mouthed figure—a hallmark of the “Netsilik school” Ullulaq helped define—raises an axe and ulu in either hand, leaning with excitement as if ready to butcher a freshly hunted animal. The tools, carved from antler with a stone axe head, point to the central role of hunting in Inuit life.

Ullulaq’s work draws deeply from his early years living traditionally on the land as the youngest in a family of hunters and trappers. Judas remembered his childhood as one without much food but with great joy—a spirit that resonates in the exuberant expression of this figure.

Known for his expressive distortions and mixed materials, Ullulaq infused his sculptures with humour and vitality. This piece is not only a reflection of Inuit survival and craftsmanship, but also of the artist’s own history, shaped by resilience and creativity.