Pauta Saila
(1916–)
(–2009)
Pauta Saila
1916–2009
Pauta Saila (1916–2009) was born in a Kilaparutua camp on Baffin Island, NU. Growing up in a traditional community, he learned in his early years how to hunt and to carve from his father, Saila, and used his personal connection to the land in his depictions of arctic wildlife. He was affiliated with the Kinngait (Cape Dorset) artist community from the 1960s on.
Saila became involved in the artist co-op shortly after moving to Kinngait in the early 1960s. His work was featured in the Cape Dorset Annual Print Collections from 1961 through 1982. Saila’s graphic style was minimal, yet full of energy. He developed new techniques including using axes in engraving plates.
After 1981, he directed his work to soapstone carving, specializing in dancing bear sculptures. These works quickly gained popularity with southern collectors, and later as souvenir art made for tourists. Numerous other carvers began to imitate his style, using the dancing bear motif in their works, to meet to demand that his earlier works created.
Saila’s work is in numerous collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Saila was appointed to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2003.
