Inuit Art Society Annual Meetings

Our annual meetings feature native Inuit artists from Canada, knowledgeable speakers about Inuit art and culture, and field trips to private collections, a museum, or other relevant points of interest. We there’s always ample time to meet other Inuit art enthusiasts.

Watch for information on the 2023 meeting on our home page.

Previous IAS Meetings

2022 Vancouver Canada

2022 meeting highlights

2019 Ann Arbor Meeting

The 2019 Annual Meeting of the Inuit Art Society was held at the University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Guest artists and speakers

• Dr. Heather Igloliorte, Inuk scholar and independent curator
• Christine Lalonde, Associate Curator of Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada
• Dr. Marion (Mame) Jackson, Professor Emerita, University of Michigan and Wayne State University (Detroit)
• Koomuatuk (Kuzy) Curley, Kinngait, NU  (Film, Sculptural Carving)
• Mike Foor-Pessin (IAS President)

2019 Meeting Agenda

2018 Traverse City Meeting

The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Inuit Art Society was held at the Dennos Museum in Traverse City, Michigan, on October 19-21, 2018.  With record attendance and interesting and exciting speakers, the meeting was a great success.

Guest artists and speakers

• Inuit sculptor Bill Nasogaluak
• Canadian artist Don Stewart, now one of Canada’s leading goldsmiths, started the Pangnirtung Weaving Studio.
• Stephanie Gandulla, a member of the Sedna Epic Expedition Project
• Bernadette Driscoll Engelstad, curator and independent scholar of Inuit cultural history
• Douglas George, Consul General of Canada in Detroit

2018 Meeting Highlights

2017 Corning, New York, Meeting

The 2017 Inuit Art Society Meeting looked at how traditional Inuit art has been, and continues to be, transformed as artists use new forms and techniques.

Guest artists and speakers

• Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, painter, carver, and throat singer Niap (Nancy Saunders)
• Film maker and Inuit culturist, John Houston
• Throat singer Pauyungie Nutaraaluk
• Max Erlacher, a master engraver who worked directly with Houston during his time at Steuben
• Anthropologist Nelson Graburn, Professor Emeritus of Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley
• Richard Mohr, IAS member and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and of Classics at the University of Illinois at Urbana
• Rob Cassetti, a glass designer and design director with Steuben
• Steve Bender, Steuben business manager

2017 Meeting Highlights

2016 Kenosha, Wisconsin

The 2016 Annual Meeting took a closer look at Inuit ceramics with guest artist Pierre Aupilardjuk and WAG curator Darlene Coward Wight. In addition, Aaju Peter provided a fascinating look at the Inuit tattooing and the intersection of Canadian and Inuit Law.

Guest artists and speakers

• Aaju Peter, Inuit lawyer, activist, and sealskin clothes designer
• Pierre Aupilardjuk, Inuit ceramics artist
• Darlene Coward Wight, Curator of Inuit Art, Winnipeg Art Gallery

2016 Meeting Highlights

2015 Minneapolis, Minnesota

With the theme “Off The Island: The art of the Kivalliq region and of Greenlandic artist Jonas Faber,” the meeting focused on the art of the communities along the western edge of Hudson’s Bay and the work of Faber.

Speakers

• Jamshed Merchant, Canadian Consul General in Minneapolis
• Norman Zepp, IAS member and noted arts curator
• Michael Foor-Pessin, IAS board member
• Ole Gjerstad, anthropologist and filmmaker
• Jan Sivertson, owner of Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais, MN
• Bob O’Hara, IAS member, Arctic canoe trip leader

Guest Artist

• Jonas Faber, Greenlandic Inuit artist

2015 Meeting Highlights

2014 Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN

Eiteljorg Museum Of American Indians and Western Art, October 10-12

The world of Inuit art is changing. The elders are largely gone. Now what? Younger carvers seem to be focusing on “what sells” to mass audiences, yet beautiful, original, quality pieces are still being produced. This year’s annual conference takes a hard look at what this means to you, the collector.

Speakers

• Douglas George, Consul General of Canada
• Tom Webster, owner/operator of the Iqaluit Fine Arts Studio in Iqaluit
• Ingo Hessel, Director of Inuit Art, Walker’s Auctions, Ottawa, CA
• Eliot Waldman, owner/operator of Native Art Traders, Skokie, IL

Guest Artist

• Pootoogook Qiatsuk, a widely exhibited, multi-dimensional artist who creates prints, sculpture, and jewelry

2014 Meeting Highlights

2013 Skokie, IL

Speakers

• Leslie Boyd, Keynote speaker
• Charles W. Shabica, Guest Speaker
• Norman Zepp,Guest Speaker

Guest Artist

• Tony Weyiouanna, Sr,

2013 Meeting Highlights

2012 Dennos Museum, Traverse City, Michigan

2011 Hamilton, Ontario