Art Thompson

Artist Photo - Art Thompson

Artist Photo – Art Thompson

Name:
Art Thompson (1948 – 2003 )
Gender:
Male
Style:
Nuu-Chah-Nulth
Region:
Pacific Northwest Coast, Canada


Art Thompson was born in 1948 in the village of Whyac on the southern end of Nitinat Lake. He belonged to the Ditidaht Band of the Nuu-chah-nulth people.

Art was fortunate to be immersed in the cultural life of his people from an early age, when he was initiated into the Tlukwalla society. As a small boy he showed great interest in artistic expression. This was encouraged by his paternal grandfather, from whom he learned the history, songs and dances of his people.

Art graduated from a residential school in 1964, ending nine years of abuse. In subsequent years he became a powerful spokesman in pursuit of justice for others who have suffered similar experiences.

One of the key events in Art’s artistic life was perhaps his 1970 meeting with fellow Nuu-chah-nulth artists Joe David and Ron Hamilton, the latter possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of West Coast traditional art.


From 1970 -1972 Art studied fine arts at Camosun College in Victoria. Subsequently, he enrolled at the Emily Carr Institute in Vancouver, working in both two and three dimensional forms. It was here that Art began printmaking and began to create the striking silkscreens for which he is now so renowned.

Well-versed in many of the artistic styles of the coast, Art developed his own innovative and distinctive interpretation of Nuu-chah-nulth design. Art created a number of large dance screens, which, in turn became serigraphs, while other print images were drawn from drum heads.

Art Thompson’s work can be found in many public collections including the Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec, the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, The Canadian High Commission in Singapore, and Stanford University in the United States.

Art Work

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    'AH-DISS (Crane-Fog Maker)' by Art Thomson

    AH-DISS (Crane-Fog Maker)

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    1990
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    'First Fisherman' by Northwest Coast artist Art Thomson

    First Fisherman

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    1990
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    'In Memory Only' by Art Thompson

    In Memory Only

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    1989
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    'Kwaht-Yaht is Born' by Art Thompson

    Kwaht-Yaht is Born

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    1989
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    'Owl' by Art Thompson

    Owl

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    1996
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    'Pookmiss Comes Back' by Art Thompson

    Pookmiss Comes Back

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    1989
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    'Qwiss-Toopsh' by Art Thompson

    Qwiss-Toopsh

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    1982
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    'Raven Rescues the Sun and Elements' by Art Thompson

    Raven Rescues the Sun and Elements

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    1989
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    'Right Handed Painter' by Art Thompson

    Right Handed Painter

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    1994
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    'Tee-Thloop' by Art Thompson

    Tee-Thloop

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    1977
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    'Thlop Kee Tupp' by Art Thompson

    Thlop-Kee-Tupp

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    1990
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    'Untitled' by Art Thompson

    Untitled

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    1992
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    'Wolf Changing into Killer Whale' by Art Thompson

    Wolf Changing into Killer Whale

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    1976