KINGWATSIAK, IYOLA

Iyola (Iola) Kingwatsiak was born in Kinngait in the Qikiqtaaluk Region (Baffin Island). He was a visual artist that specialized in the creation of carvings, drawings and prints. Kingwatsiak started to develop his artistic practice in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) and resided there for the remainder of his life. Kingwatsiak commenced his artistic practice as a carver and later became known for his creation of prints in Kinngait between 1959 and 1977, as well as from 1984 to 1988.

Kingwatsiak was one of the first Inuit artists, alongside Lukta Qiatsuq, Eegyvudluk Pootoogook and Kananginak Pootoogook, to engage in formal printmaking practices with artist and Canadian government official, James Houston in Kinngait during the late 1950s

(Inuit Art Foundation, 2019)