Pangnirtung, Nunavut: Whalebone Art

Nestled between dramatic fjords and soaring mountain ranges, Pangnirtung—meaning “the place of the bull caribou” in Inuktitut—has become an important hub for Inuit sculpture, especially in the medium of whalebone. While historically a seal-hunting community, economic shifts in the 1970s and '80s led Pangnirtung to expand into the arts, with strong support for carving, printmaking, and weaving.

Among the most distinctive and sought-after works from this region are whalebone carvings, known for their bold, heroic realism and deep connection to Inuit shamanic and mythological traditions. Artists often favor large-scale compositions that capture the drama and spirituality of the Arctic, using whalebone not just as a material, but as a vessel for storytelling.

Pangnirtung’s sculptors—closely connected to those in nearby Qikiqtarjuaq—combine whalebone with richly colored stones, from light green to deep black, to create works of enduring cultural and aesthetic value. For collectors, Pangnirtung’s whalebone art offers a compelling synthesis of heritage, craftsmanship, and powerful narrative form.

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