Jaco Ishulutaq

Jaco Ishulutaq is an Inuit artist from Panniqtuuq (Pangnirtung), Nunavut, recognized for his expressive stone carvings and his dedication to preserving Inuit stories, values, and ways of life. Born in 1951, he began making art at the age of sixteen, encouraged by his mother, the respected graphic artist Elisapee Ishulutaq, and learned to carve by observing his grandfather.
Working in materials such as soapstone, antler, ivory, and whalebone, Ishulutaq is best known for sculptures that reflect Inuit culture, Arctic wildlife, community life, and traditional knowledge. His subjects often include people, birds, animals, hunters, drum dancers, and the sea goddess Sedna, a figure he carves to help pass on important Inuit stories to future generations.
In addition to sculpture, Ishulutaq has explored drawing and graphic art, including illustrations inspired by his grandfather’s stories. Some of his drawings have been used as templates by printmakers and weavers in Panniqtuuq, connecting his work to the community’s celebrated printmaking and tapestry traditions.
Over his career, Ishulutaq has become one of Panniqtuuq’s most respected and prolific artists. His work has been exhibited in Canada and internationally, including the solo exhibition Stories from the North at the Museum of Inuit Art in Toronto in 2012. In 2018, he received the Nunavut Commissioner’s Arts Award in recognition of his contribution to the visual arts in Nunavut.
Beyond his own artistic practice, Ishulutaq has shared his knowledge through mentorship, community work, and teaching. His art continues to honour Inuit cultural memory while bringing the strength, movement, and spirit of northern life to audiences around the world.