Inuit Artists
1966 - 2020
Kellypalik "Kelly" Etidloie was an Inuit sculptor born in Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Nunavut. He was born into a prominent family of artists, including his parents, Kingmeata and Etidlooie Etidlooie, as well as his siblings, Omalloq and Pitseolak Niviaqsi.
Raised in Kinngait, Etidloie learned stone sculpting by observing and assisting family members within the local artistic community. His practice centered primarily on stone carving, working with indigenous serpentine and soapstone. His compositions focused on local Arctic fauna, including polar bears, birds, muskoxen, and sea mammals, often captured in dynamic poses or balance.
Works by Etidloie have been acquired for public institutional holdings, including permanent collections at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario. Etidloie maintained his studio practice in Kinngait until his death in 2020.