Hunter with FIsh

Mathew Aqigaaq was born on August 14, 1940, near the Kazan River Falls in what is now Nunavut, Canada. After spending over two years in a Manitoba sanatorium in the early 1960s, he returned to Baker Lake unable to continue the traditional hunting and trapping lifestyle, leading him to turn to carving as a source of income.

Aqigaaq became known for his distinctive sculptures created from the hard basalt stone available in the Baker Lake region. Despite the challenging nature of this material, he developed techniques to transform it into expressive works representing aspects of Inuit life and culture. His sculptures often featured human figures engaged in traditional activities as well as depictions of Arctic wildlife, particularly muskoxen, which became a signature subject in his work.

Coming from a family with artistic connections, Aqigaaq was part of the broader Inuit art community. His wife, Marjorie Aglubak, was a Baker Lake wall hanging artist, and his older brother, David Ikutaaq, was also a sculptor from the same community. This familial artistic environment contributed to the development of his distinctive style.

Aqigaaq's work gained recognition in the Canadian art world, with his sculptures being exhibited in venues across Canada. His art is represented in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, indicating the significance of his contribution to Inuit art. Mathew Aqigaaq passed away in 2010 in Nunavut, leaving behind a legacy of sculptures that document and preserve aspects of Inuit culture and life.