DAVID J GONZALES

David was born in 1971 and raised on the Tsartlip Reserve in Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It was there that he was introduced to Native art and inspired to create. A member of the Squamish Nation, he was adopted into the Nisga’a Nation by marriage. He now lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

David is self-taught and often turned to books from libraries to develop his craft. He carved his first talking stick at age twelve and has worked with red and yellow cedar ever since. As he progressed, David moved toward the Northwest Coast style. He learned the Tsimshian style and designs from master carver Heber Reece.

In 2009, he expanded his artistic expression by graduating from the Northwest Coast Jewelry Arts program under renowned Haida artist Dan Wallace's guidance.