Ben Davidson

Ben Davidson whose Haida name was khooleil, was a Haida carver, sculptor, and visual artist from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. Belonging to the Ts'aahl clan, he began carving at an early age under the mentorship of his father, the renowned Haida artist Claude Davidson. He expanded his formal training through apprenticeships with established artists, including his uncle Robert Davidson and master carver Reg Davidson, studying traditional Northwest Coast formline design and carving techniques.

Working primarily in red and yellow cedar, argillite, bronze, and precious metals, Davidson produced totem poles, ceremonial masks, structural posts, and jewelry. His work maintained classical Haida design principles, incorporating traditional crests such as the raven, eagle, frog, and killer whale, while utilizing contemporary sculptural forms and precise tool work. In addition to traditional carving, he explored graphic prints and mixed-media compositions.

Throughout his career, Davidson completed major public and monumental commissions, including totem poles raised in Haida Gwaii and international public installations. His works were featured in institutional exhibitions at venues such as the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and the Royal British Columbia Museum. He lived and operated his studio practice in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, until his death in 2020.