16" Masterpiece Owl Spirit by Famous Toonoo Sharky

Inuit art: Owl Spirit
Inuit Artist: Toonoo Sharky
Size: 16" long, 4" tall, 2" deep,
Community: Cape Dorset, NU
Stone: Serpentine 
id: dfa-7732Mbjjjyred

Toonoo Sharkey is widely recognized and accepted as a major carving talent of the Inuit art world.

This precocious talent began carving at the tender age of ten and entered his first art exhibition while in his teens!

“Owl Spirit” is irrefutable proof of Toonoo’s mastery of carving and his innate ability to contrast a sense of the dramatic against the lightness of humour within his carvings. In choosing brilliant apple green marble for this piece, Toonoo departs from his usually earthy colour palette.

The impact of this choice, is the creation of a profound tension within this proud bird, magnified by the contrast between the pure white eyes and the brilliant green body.

Toonoo began his tenure as a carver at the early age of ten, and entered his first exhibition while still in his teens. He is widely recognized as a major carving talent.

This transformation subject is typical of his best work; it epitomizes the Cape Dorset aesthetic and shows off Toonoo's consummate technical skill, flair and humor.

Even if I asked Toonoo to make me another one like this, he wouldn't be able to. Something as beautiful as this piece almost happens by accident. An artist like Toonoo will do his best to mold the stone, but so many other factors come into play in having a masterpiece like this come to being.

Toonoo has numerous international exhibitions and awards.