Annie Pootoogook (1969â2016) was an Inuit artist renowned for her drawings depicting contemporary Inuit life in northern Canada.
A pioneer of visual storytelling, she marked an important shift in the art world's understanding of contemporary Inuit art and life. A third-generation artistâgranddaughter of Pitseolak Ashoona and daughter of Napachie Pootoogookâshe worked in the Inuit tradition of sulijuk(âtrueâ), emphasizing honest, lived depictions over convention or trend.
Pootoogook broke from traditional imagery of hunting and animals, instead depicting domestic scenes, gender roles, and the effects of consumerism and technology in Kinngait (formerly Cape Dorset). Her work offered an unfiltered, contemporary vision of Inuit experience, marked by clarity, candour, and emotional depth.
This drawing of a mother and child was created with her signature coloured-pencil technique: flat yet dimensional, delicate yet deliberate. Standing in the foreground of a vast expanse of ice and snow, a mother holds her baby nestled inside her parka. Both figures stand facing the viewer, smiling. Pootoogook has drawn a frame around the image, creating a unique and complete portrait.Â
Pootoogookâs life was defined by both sorrow and success. Created four years after Pootoogook left Kinngait for Ottawa, this late work reflects a period of hardship and isolation as she struggled with addiction and homelessness while living in the big city. Despite these challenges, she continued to create art of honesty and power until her untimely death in 2016.
Pootoogookâs impact on Canadian art is profound. The first Inuit artist to win the Sobey Art Award (2006), she went on to exhibit at the Montreal Biennale and documenta 12 in Kassel. Her works now reside in major national collections, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The Art Canada Institute is a fantastic resource for learning about Annie Pootoogook. It's a digitally accessible copy of the book "Annie Pootoogook: Life & Work" by Nancy G. Campbell.
Questions about this piece? Contact us or call +1.416.704.1720
Visit our Toronto gallery on Thursdays or by appointment.
"Mother and Child"
Canada, 2012
Coloured pencil on paper
Signed on face
Dated "Sept. 20/2012" and signed on verso in pencil
14"H 11"W (work)
16"H 13.75"W (framed)
Framed with museum glass
Very good condition
- Where does the inventory ship from?
Our inventory is divided between New York and Toronto.Â
- Where do you ship to?
We can ship anywhere. Typically when we ship within North America we prefer to use FedEx or DHL. To Europe, Asia and beyond we generally use DHL.Â
-Â How much does it cost to ship?
For shipments within North America, we typically charge a flat rate fee. Many items on our site will list the rate. For shipping outside of North America, we can easily provide a quote and will look for the most efficient and economical option.
Most of the items on our site can be easily shipped internationally.
Occasionally we will recommend that an artwork be removed from its frame for shipping. Larger framed works are typically framed with plexiglass. We export over 80% of what we sell, so we are comfortable shipping anywhere.Â
-Â Are there additional taxes or fees?
When a work is valued above $2,500 usd there is a possibility of tax of 0.35%, but this is applied sporadically. There can similarly be an additional fee for customs brokerage and this can range from $20 - $65. US Taxes, duties and customs brokerage are not included in our flat rate shipping. However most of our shipments to the US enter without any additional fees.Â
-Â Do you provide a certificate of authenticity?
Yes, we guarantee everything we sell. We can provide both a digital and printed version of our certificate of authenticity.Â
What is your return policy?
- Caviar20 wants you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. We have a 7 day no-questions full refund return policy for your purchase. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. After 8 days returns are given a credit note. There is no expiration for our credit notes.
- What payment methods do you accept?
Canadian clients are welcomed and encouraged to pay with interac.
Â