Abraham Anghik Ruben Bio

Abraham Anghik Ruben was born in Paulatuk, Northwest Territories in 1951 and has become a major innovative force among Inuit sculptors. Abraham has always thought of himself as part of the world of contemporary sculptors and has had to break down many of the subtle barriers that constrain the Inuit artist. He has proven that an Inuit can root himself in the south without losing his cultural Identity. Abraham has been exhibiting his work since 1973.

Abraham has clung fiercely to the stories and traditions he was taught as a child and although he studied art at university, he has often chosen non-traditional materials and tools to tell us the old tales and legends in a new way. His artistic exploration has led to creating monumental sculptures in Bronze for both indoor and outdoor installations.

Abraham has always been a promoter of other Inuit artists and was instrumental in helping organize the first ever exhibition of circumpolar art from the communities of Arctic Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Sampi, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Abraham was one of the artists' exhibiting in the traveling Noah''s Ark presented by the National Gallery of Canada. Abraham's work was exhibited alongside artists such as Pablo Picasso, and Edgar Degas. Abraham is featured in the winter 2005 issue of Inuit Art Quarterly. Anghik-Ruben's art can be found in public, corporate and private collections throughout the world. Some of the public art collections where Abraham's art is represented include: The National Gallery of Canada; Art Gallery of Ontario; Canadian Museum of Civilization; Glenbow Museum; House of Commons; Indian and Northern Affairs; McMaster University Art Gallery; McMichael Canadian Art Collection; Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre; Royal Ontario Museum; and The Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Abraham currently resides on Salt Spring Island with his wife Patricia Donnelly and son Tim.

Public Collections

National Gallery of Canada                           Ottawa, Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario                                  Toronto, Ontario
Board of Regents Office                               University of Juneau, Alaska
Canadian Museum of Civilization                   Hull, Quebec
Norwegian Folk Museum                              Oslo, Norway
Glenbow Museum                                        Calgary, Alberta
House of Commons                                      Ottawa, Ontario
Indian and Northern Affairs                           Ottawa, Ontario
McMaster University Art Gallery                     Hamilton, Ontario
McMichael Canadian Art Collection                 Kleinberg, Ontario
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre      Yellowknife, NWT
Royal Ontario Museum                                Toronto, Ontario
The Winnipeg Art Gallery                              Winnipeg, Manitoba

Solo Exhibitions

2006                 Iceland 900 A.D.                                  Mayberry Fine Art, Winnipeg, MA
2003                 The Art of Abraham Anghik Ruben        Appleton Galleries, Vancouver, BC
2001-2002         Winnipeg Art Gallery                            Winnipeg, Manitoba
                        “Abraham Anghik Ruben”                     Illustrated catalogue
2000-2002         Paiges Art Gallery                                Ketchum, Idaho, USA
1998                 Maslak-McLeod Gallery                         Sante Fe, New Mexico
1994                 Abraham Anghik: Work in Bronze          Isaacs Inuit Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1991                 “Spirit of my People” (sculptures)          Alaska Gallery of New York
1981                 Images for a Canadian Heritage          Vancouver, BC
1980                 Bayard Gallery                                     New York, New York USA
1980                 Abraham Anghik, New Sculptures          Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1979                 Pollock Gallery                                     Toronto, Ontario
1978                 Pollock Gallery                                     Toronto, Ontario
1977                 Pollock Gallery                                     Toronto, Ontario
1976                 Langlois Gallery                                   Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
1975/73            Arctic Arts Gallery                                Edmonton, Alberta

Two-Person Exhibitions

1989 Out of Tradition: Abraham Anghik/David Ruben Piqtoukun, Illustrated Catalogue (The Winnipeg Art Gallery)

Group Exhibitions

1997                 Sun Valley Center for Arts and Humanities                  Ketchum, Idaho, USA
1995                 Canadian Inuit Sculpture: The Next Generation
                        Orca Art Gallery                                                       Chicago, Illinois
1993                 Arts from the Arctic                                                 Yellowknife, NWT
                        Arts from the Arctic and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
1993                 Arts from the Arctic, Anchorage Museum                  Anchorage, Alaska

                        Yakutsk Art Centre                                                  Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha, Siberia
1991                 “Spirit of My People:” Sculptures by Abraham             New York, New York
1987                Orcas Gallery                                                          Salt Spring Island, BC
1984                  Images Art Gallery                                                 Toronto, Ontario
1984-88             Arctic Vision: Art of the Canadian Inuit,
                         Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
                         Development (Tour of United States and Canada)     Ottawa, Ontario
1983-85             Contemporary Indian and Inuit Art of Canada
                         Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
                         Development                                                         Ottawa, Ontario
1982             New Work by a New Generation,                             University of Regina
                         Mackenzie Art Gallery                                             Regina,Saskatchewan
1982                 Recent Works by Anghik, Morriseau, Odjig
                        Thomas Gallery Quan                                              Toronto, Ontario
1982                 Works by Abraham, Anghik, David Piqtoukun,
                        Stefanie Ham, Thomas Gallery Quan                         Toronto, Ontario
1981                 The Inuit Sea Goddess, Surrey Art Gallery                  Surrey
1981                 Gallery Quan                                                           Toronto, Ontario
1980                 National Museum of Man                                          Ottawa, Ontario
1980                 Children of the Raven Gallery                                    Vancouver, BC
1979                 Royal Ontario Museum                                             Toronto, Ontario
1978                 The Coming and Going of the Shaman,
                        The Winnipeg Art Gallery                                         Winnipeg, Manitoba
1977                 Art Gallery of Ontario                                               Toronto, Ontario
1975                 University of Alaska                                                  Fairbanks, Alaska

Corporate Collections

Alberta Stock Exchange                                  Calgary, Alberta
Alcan World Headquarters                              Montreal, Quebec
BC Chartered Accountants                            Vancouver, British Columbia
BC Gas                                                         Vancouver, British Columbia
Citicorp                                                         Toronto, Ontario
Glaxo/Smith/Kline Canada Inc.                        Ontario
Guardian Capital Group Ltd.                            Ontario
Imperial Oil Ltd.                                            Alberta
Kingswood Capital                                         Vancouver, British Columbia
Labatt’s Ltd.                                                  Ontario
Noranda Mines Ltd.                                        Ontario

Honours/Achievements

Expo 86 Banners and backdrop for NWT Pavilion performance stage
Vancouver, Canada 1986

1990 Northern Myth Northern Legend, National competition for Glaxo/Smith/Kline Canadian Headquarters
(16’ limestone sculpture)

1993 Manulife national sculpture competition for placement at BC Gas Building, Vancouver, Canada

1992- Holocaust Sculpture Memorial, Holocaust Museum, Israel
ongoing