Abraham Anghik Ruben (b. 1951, Paulatuk, NWT) stands as one of Canada’s most influential Inuit sculptors, known for reshaping the boundaries of Indigenous contemporary art. Raised in the western Arctic, Ruben absorbed the oral histories, stories, and spiritual knowledge of his Inuvialuit Elders — teachings that continue to anchor the narratives within his sculptures. His practice began in the early 1970s and, over five decades, has evolved into a deeply personal and widely acclaimed visual language that bridges ancient cultural memory with contemporary sculptural innovation.

Although he later studied art at university, Ruben has often pursued non-traditional materials and tools, reimagining Inuit stories in forms that resonate far beyond the Arctic. His sculptures — whether carved in stone or cast as monumental bronze works — explore themes of survival, migration, shamanism, transformation, resilience, and the shared mythologies of circumpolar peoples. His artistic voice remains uniquely his own: rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to expand into new aesthetic territories.

In addition to his own practice, Ruben has been a powerful advocate for circumpolar artists. He was instrumental in organizing the first major exhibition bringing together creators from Arctic Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Sápmi, Norway, Sweden, and Finland — a landmark moment in recognizing the cultural continuity across northern regions.

Ruben’s work has been exhibited internationally since 1973 and has been included in major shows such as Noah’s Ark, a National Gallery of Canada travelling exhibition that presented his sculptures alongside works by Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas. His art has been featured in publications including Inuit Art Quarterly, and he has held significant solo exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Inuit Art, the Rockwell Museum, Museum Cerny, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, and galleries throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Today, Ruben resides on Salt Spring Island with his family, where he continues to create large-scale works for museums, public institutions, and private collectors around the world. His sculptures are held in major collections including The Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the House of Commons, and many more.

In 2016, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Canadian art, cultural preservation, and the international understanding of Inuit heritage.

“My work draws from the stories, teachings, and traditions I learned as a child in Paulatuk. I use both traditional and contemporary materials to retell these ancient narratives in new ways — exploring the spirit world, cultural memory, shamanism, and the shared history of northern peoples. Though I root myself in contemporary sculpture, my cultural identity remains at the core of everything I create.”

Public Collections

The Smithsonian 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
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

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 100 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 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, British Columbia 
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 - 2016 Recipient of the Officer of the Order of Canada