Abraham Anghik Ruben, Sculptor

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 was 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 Smithsonian; 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.

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
2016 Recipient of the Officer of the Order of Canada

Public Collections
The Smithsonian’s National- Museum of the American Indian Washington, D.C, USA
The Rockwell Museum Corning, New York, USA
Art Gallery of Algoma Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Halifax, Nova Scotia
Beaverbrook Art Gallery Fredericton, New Brunswick
Museum Cerny Inuit Collection Bern, Switzerland
Art Gallery of Ontario AGO Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Embassy Washington DC, USA
Canadian Museum of Civilization Ottawa, Ontario
De Young Museum – Fowler Collection San Francisco, USA
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 Kleinburg, Ontario
Museum of Anthropology University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Museum of Inuit Art Toronto, Ontario
National Gallery of Canada Ottawa, Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario Toronto, Ontario
Board of Regents Office University of Juneau, Alaska, USA
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
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Yellowknife, NWT
Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, Ontario
The Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba

Solo Exhibitions
2017 The Guild Montreal, Quebec
2017 Dennos Museum Michigan, USA
2016 Narratives from the North, Victoria, BC
Robert Bateman Centre
2015-2016 Museum of Inuit Art Toronto, Ontario
2015-2016 Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Yellowknife, NT
2014-2015 Museum Cerny Inuit Collection Bern, Switzerland
2014 Rockwell Museum of Western Art New York, USA
2013 Arctic Journeys/Ancient Memories Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
2012 Arctic Journeys/Ancient Memories Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC
2006 Iceland 900 A.D. Mayberry Fine Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba
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 Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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
2012 Abraham Ruben & Ron Senungetuk, Bunnell St. Gallery, Alaska
1989 Out of Tradition: Abraham Anghik/David Ruben Piqtoukun, Illustrated Catalogue (The Winnipeg Art Gallery)

Group Exhibitions
2013  1 00 Masters: Only in Canada  Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
2013 Creation & Transformation: Defining Moments in Inuit Art, WAG Winnipeg, Ontario
2012 Canadian Heritage Gallery Kleinburg, Ontario
2011 Inuit Modern, Art Gallery of Ontario, AGO Toronto, Ontario
2010 The Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba
2010 Canada’s Northern House, Winter Olympics 2010      Vancouver, BC
2007 National Gallery,  Touring Exhibition,  Inuit Sculpture Now
2007 ItuKiagattal! Inuit Sculpture from the Collection of the TD Bank Financial Group, Guest Exhibitor, VAG   Victoria, British Columbia
2005   Iceland 1000 AD, Mayberry Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba
2004 Noah’s Ark, National Gallery, Shawinigan, Quebec
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, organized by the Canadian National Committee, Arts from the Arctic and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NWT
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 A rctic 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, British Columbia
1981 Gallery Quan T oronto, 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

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Also in Artist Biography Collection