Pitaloosie Saila

Pitaloosie Saila RCA (July 11, 1942 – July 24, 2021) was a Canadian Inuk graphic artist known for her drawings and lithograph prints. Born in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) in what was then the Northwest Territories, Saila spent much of her childhood in hospitals in Quebec and Ontario receiving treatment for tuberculosis. She learned English during these hospital stays and later served as a translator for her neighbors. After her mother died when she was two years old, she was raised by her grandmother and returned to Baffin Island in 1957 at age 15, where she had to relearn Inuktitut.

Saila began drawing in the early 1960s during James Archibald Houston's time at Cape Dorset and quickly developed a distinctive personal style. Her work has been included in Cape Dorset's annual print collections since 1968, with 113 of her images featured over the years. Her subject matter frequently focuses on strong, nurturing women, mothers with children, birds, and mythical Taleelayu (Sedna) figures. Her bold imagery translates effectively to the print medium, particularly lithography, in which many of her most recognized works were created.

Saila came from a family of accomplished artists. She was married to renowned sculptor Pauta Saila from 1960 until his death in 2009. Her stepmother Mary Pudlat contributed regularly to Cape Dorset print collections, while her uncles Pudlo Pudlat and Osoochiak Pudlat gained recognition for their graphic works. Her father's cousin, Peter Pitseolak, was among the first South Baffin Inuit to produce a sustained body of artistic work.

Throughout her career, Saila received significant recognition for her contributions to Canadian art. In 1977, Canada Post featured her 1971 print "Fisherman's Dream" on a postage stamp as part of a series celebrating Inuit art's contribution to Canada's cultural heritage. Her 1980 print "Arctic Madonna" was selected for a UNICEF greeting card in 1983, and Amnesty International chose her drawing "Mother and Child" for their 1990 Christmas card. In 2004, both she and her husband Pauta were inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

Saila's work has been displayed in over 150 exhibitions nationally and internationally, including the acclaimed "Isumavut: The Artistic Expression of Nine Cape Dorset Women" exhibition. Her works are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Canadian Museum of History. She traveled extensively throughout her career to attend exhibitions and conferences in southern Canada, the United States, and Europe, helping to bring Inuit art to international audiences.