27 x 34 in (68.6 x 86.4 cm) including frame
Provenance:
Fleet Galleries, Winnipeg;
Private Collection, Winnipeg
(Includes Buyer's Premium)
Juanisialu Irqumia
Juanisialuk Irqumia was born in 1917 and was one of the original inhabitants of Puvirnituq, Nunavik. He worked in sculpture, printmaking, and drawing. An introverted person, Irqumia preferred to carve alone at home and worked directly on stone blocks without preliminary drawings. His subjects included families, birds, hunting scenes, and people at work. His carvings were firmly rooted in realism and rarely addressed Inuit mythology.
Irqumia was one of approximately 40 people who survived being stranded on a melting ice floe, an event often depicted in the sculptures of fellow Puvirnituq artist Joe Talirunili. Many people drowned during the ordeal, including Irqumia's sister Annie and her two children. Irqumia was said to have suffered from "kayak anxiety," possibly a form of agoraphobia that caused disorientation in open spaces and prevented him from going out in a kayak on open water. Scholars have suggested this condition influenced his artistic approach, noting that he avoided open planes by using the boundary of the stone or landscape to circumscribe his subjects, and that his prints always feature more than one figure firmly anchored in defined space.
Though Irqumia likely began carving before 1956, few examples from that period exist. His carvings from the 1960s are particularly accomplished and often incorporate a sophisticated use of negative space. Family scenes show figures clearly defined as individuals while embracing or working side by side, typically carved from a single stone with elements linked by a common base. In 1962, under technical advisor Victor Tinkl, the Povungnituk Co-operative began printmaking, and Irqumia was one of 24 artists selected for the first Puvirnituq print collection. His prints depicted daily activities—hunting, drying skins, travelling—as well as animals, particularly caribou. He often included syllabic text descriptions in his prints. He worked consistently until 1976 and died in 1977.
Irqumia's work has been exhibited internationally in New York, Germany, and Sweden, as well as throughout North America. In 1967, his carvings were included in The Eskimo Art Collection of the Toronto-Dominion Bank, a centennial exhibition.
First Nations and Inuit Art Auction
December 4 - December 18, 2025
212 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg MB
(204) 255-5690
mayberryfineart.com
[email protected]
Contact us to make an appointment to preview this item or to sell similar works.
|
Bidding Range
|
Increment
|
|---|---|
| $0.00 - $50.00 | $1.00 |
| $50.00 - $100.00 | $5.00 |
| $100.00 - $500.00 | $10.00 |
| $500.00 - $1,000.00 | $25.00 |
| $1,000.00 - $5,000.00 | $50.00 |
| $5,000.00 - $10,000.00 | $100.00 |
| $10,000.00 - $20,000.00 | $200.00 |
| $20,000.00 - $50,000.00 | $500.00 |
| $50,000.00 - $100,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| $100,000.00+ | $5,000.00 |
Login or register a BidLots.com account to participate in any auction. Track specific lots and artists with real-time notifications on all bidding activity.
Bidding approval requires three simple steps:
1. Create a Bid Lots account
2. Confirm your email address
3. Create a valid billing profile
Bid Lots and/or the auctioneer may choose to revoke your bidding privileges if your account is not in good standing or your activity is in conflict with our standard terms and conditions of sale.
The buyer’s premium is an additional percentage charged to the winning bidder. The buyer’s premiums may vary from auction to auction, typically ranging from 10% to 20%. Buyer’s premiums will be displayed on detailed lot listings and paddle registration forms.
Bidding begins at the reserve price and advances at set increments based on the bidding range. The specific bidding increments may vary from auction to auction, however the next bid and subsequent increments will always be clearly defined on detailed lot listings. Maximum Bids and Single Bids can only be placed within the pre-defined bidding increments ensuring that no two bidders can place identical bids on an item. View individual lot detail pages to see a complete range of bidding increments for that item.
Requests to cancel a single bid are at the sole descretion of the auctioneer. Maximum bids can be increased but cannot be decreased unless premitted by the auctioneer. Requests to cancel a bid or to alter a maximum bid will be denied if the specific lot is scheduled to close in less than 24 hours or if the lot has significant interest or activity.
To request that a bid be cancelled or to change a maximum bid use the "Ask a question" button on the detailed lot listing.
You will receive an email notification when you have successfully won an auction. You will also see the item listed on your "Bidding Results" page and if you are logged into the site you will see a highlighted message on the auction catalogue pages and auction listings.
Shipping requirements may vary on different items depending on location and size or weight of an item. When registering for a specific auction you will be provided options to clarify your preferred shipping instructions. The auctioneer will also review and provide specific shipping quotes or options following the close of an auction. If you have specific shipping requirements or are unsure of the shipping constraints on a specific item please contact the auctioneer prior to bidding.
Following the close of an auction the auctioneer will provide a detailed invoice for all items you have won. They may contact you before a final invoice is prepared to confirm or review specific shipping instructions. Payment is due once a final invoice is provided and can be submitted online by credit card, or made by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer), bank draft or international wire transfer. Any outstanding balance will be automatically charged to your registered credit card 5 days following the close of an auction.