Abraham Anghik Rubin Bio

Abraham Anghik Ruben was born in Paulatuk, Northwest Territories in 1951 and has become a major innovative force among Inuit sculptors. Abraham has always thought of himself as part of the world of contemporary sculptors and has had to break down many of the subtle barriers that constrain the Inuit artist. He has proven that an Inuit can root himself in the south without losing his cultural Identity. Abraham has been exhibiting his work since 1973.

Abraham has clung fiercely to the stories and traditions he was taught as a child and although he studied art at university, he has often chosen non-traditional materials and tools to tell us the old tales and legends in a new way. His artistic exploration has led to creating monumental sculptures in Bronze for both indoor and outdoor installations.

Abraham has always been a promoter of other Inuit artists and was instrumental in helping organize the first ever exhibition of circumpolar art from the communities of Arctic Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Sampi, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Abraham was one of the artists’ exhibiting in the traveling Noah’s Ark presented by the National Gallery of Canada. Abraham’s work was exhibited alongside artists such as Pablo Picasso, and Edgar Degas. Abraham is featured in the winter 2005 issue of Inuit Art Quarterly. Anghik-Ruben’s art can be found in public, corporate and private collections throughout the world. Some of the public art collections where Abraham ‘s art is represented include: The National Gallery of Canada; Art Gallery of Ontario; Canadian Museum of Civilization; Glenbow Museum; House of Commons; Indian and Northern Affairs; McMaster University Art Gallery; McMichael Canadian Art Collection; Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre; Royal Ontario Museum; and The Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Abraham currently resides on Salt Spring Island with his wife Patricia Donnelly and son Tim.

Public Collections

National Gallery of Canada Ottawa, Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario Toronto, Ontario
Board of Regents Office University of Juneau, Alaska
Canadian Museum of Civilization Hull, Quebec
Norwegian Folk Museum Oslo, Norway
Glenbow Museum Calgary, Alberta
House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario
Indian and Northern Affairs Ottawa, Ontario
McMaster University Art Gallery Hamilton, Ontario
McMichael Canadian Art Collection Kleinberg, Ontario
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Yellowknife, NWT
Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, Ontario
The Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba

Solo Exhibitions

2006 Iceland 900 A.D. Mayberry Fine Art, Winnipeg, MA
2003 The Art of Abraham Anghik Ruben Appleton Galleries, Vancouver, BC
2001-2002 Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba
“Abraham Anghik Ruben” Illustrated catalogue
2000-2002 Paiges Art Gallery Ketchum, Idaho, USA
1998 Maslak-McLeod Gallery Sante Fe, New Mexico
1994 Abraham Anghik: Work in Bronze Isaacs Inuit Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1991 “Spirit of my People” (sculptures) Alaska Gallery of New York
1981 Images for a Canadian Heritage Vancouver, BC
1980 Bayard Gallery New York, New York USA
1980 Abraham Anghik, New Sculptures Pollock Gallery , Toronto, Ontario
1979 Pollock Gallery Toronto, Ontario
1978 Pollock Gallery Toronto, Ontario
1977 Pollock Gallery Toronto, Ontario
1976 Langlois Gallery Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
1975/73 Arctic Arts Gallery Edmonton, Alberta

Group Exhibitions

1997 Sun Valley Center for Arts and Humanities Ketchum, Idaho, USA
1995 Canadian Inuit Sculpture: The Next Generation
Orca Art Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1993 Arts from the Arctic, organized by the Canadian National Committee, Arts from the Arctic and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Yellowknife, NWT
1993 Arts from the Arctic, Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, Alaska
Yakutsk Art Centre Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha, Siberia
1991 “Spirit of My People:” Sculptures by Abraham New York, New York
1987 Orcas Gallery Salt Spring Island, BC
1984 Images Art Gallery Toronto, Ontario
1984-88 Arctic Vision: Art of the Canadian Inuit,
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development (Tour of United States and Canada) Ottawa, Ontario
1983-85 Contemporary Indian and Inuit Art of Canada,
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Ottawa, Ontario
1982 New Work by a New Generation, University of Regina
Mackenzie Art Gallery Regina,Saskatchewan
1982 Recent Works by Anghik, Morriseau, Odjig
Thomas Gallery Quan Toronto, Ontario
1982 Works by Abraham, Anghik, David Piqtoukun,
Stefanie Ham, Thomas Gallery Quan Toronto, Ontario
1981 The Inuit Sea Goddess, Surrey Art Gallery Surrey 1981 Gallery Quan Toronto, Ontario
1980 National Museum of Man Ottawa, Ontario
1980 Children of the Raven Gallery Vancouver, BC
1979 Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, Ontario
1978 The Coming and Going of the Shaman,
The Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba
1977 Art Gallery of Ontario Toronto, Ontario
1975 University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska

Corporate Collections

Alberta Stock Exchange Calgary, Alberta
Alcan World Headquarters Montreal, Quebec
BC Chartered Accountants Vancouver, British Columbia
BC Gas Vancouver, British Columbia
Citicorp Toronto, Ontario
Glaxo/Smith/Kline Canada Inc. Ontario
Guardian Capital Group Ltd. Ontario
Imperial Oil Ltd. Alberta
Kingswood Capital Vancouver, British Columbia
Labatt’s Ltd. Ontario
Noranda Mines Ltd. Ontario

Honours/Achievements

Expo 86 Banners and backdrop for NWT Pavilion performance stage
Vancouver, Canada 1986
1990 Northern Myth Northern Legend, National competition for Glaxo/Smith/Kline Canadian Headquarters (16’ limestone sculpture)
1993 Manulife national sculpture competition for placement at BC Gas Building, Vancouver, Canada
1992- Holocaust Sculpture Memorial, Holocaust Museum, Israel
ongoing