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April 9 | Lunch and Learn with artist Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona


A program promotional banner with text at top written "Lunch and Learn with Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona". Background is a striking blue wall with repeating printmaking artwork on. A ceramic artwork placed at the front.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
12:30 to 1:30 PM
Free | Online | Zoom link provided upon registration


About the Program

Beneath the Surface: Stories of Kinship and Connection Inuit artist Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona will share insights into her art practice and creative process.

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About the Artist

Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona is an Inuit artist based in Ottawa whose work explores themes of cultural connection, biracial identity, and modern interpretations of traditional Inuit imagery. Influenced by her grandmother, Victoria Mamnguqsualuk, and her great-grandmother, renowned artist Jessie Oonark, Kabloona’s art often highlights strong women while honouring traditional methods and expertise.

Kabloona’s practice bridges mediums, carrying forward Inuit visual traditions with a contemporary approach. Her recent projects include collaborations with Google Pixel, Canada Goose, the National Arts Centre, the British High Commission, and Canada Post, where she created the first annual Truth and Reconciliation stamp. Her work has been exhibited at the Art Gallery of Guelph, Carleton University Art Gallery, and the Taseralik Cultural Centre in Sisimiut, Greenland. Currently, Kabloona is on the longlist for the prestigious Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, continuing to make significant contributions to the Inuit art community.


About “Beneath the Surface: Stories of Kinship and Connection

Beneath the Surface features the evocative works of Emma Nishimura and Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, who use printmaking to explore culture, family, and identity. Nishimura’s practice delves into themes of memory, loss, and resilience, focusing on her family’s experiences during the internment of Japanese Canadians in World War II. Kabloona, inspired by her Inuit heritage and artistic lineage, celebrates her identity while questioning it, blending tradition with contemporary exploration.

Image credit: Beneath the Surface: Stories of Kinship and Connection, installation view, Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2025. Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
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