Pitaloosie Saila
Pitaloosie Saila
1942 - 2021
RCA


"I remember how Inuit used to live, thinking of them back then, my relatives. I also recall how the clothing was made; that is what I base my drawings on when I draw people."

- Pitaloosie Saila (from “Kinngait: Riding Light Into the World; Producer: Site Media; Director: Annette Mangaard)


Pitaloosie was born in 1942 on the southwest coast of Baffin Island near what is now the community of Cape Dorset. She spent her childhood years in various hospitals in Quebec and Ontario for treatment of tuberculosis. She learned English during this time, and recalls the difficulty she experienced in relearning her native language upon her return to Baffin Island in 1957. She was one of the few of her generation who spoke both English and Inuktitut fluently.

Pitaloosie began drawing in the early 1960’s, and quickly established herself as a versatile and intelligent graphic artist. Over the years, became a familiar presence in the Kinngait Studios, and her work was included in annual print collections since 1968.

Since the late 1960’s, Pitaloosie made frequent trips to southern Canada to attend exhibitions and conferences. In 1967, she spent several weeks in Toronto while her husband, the well-known sculptor Pauta Saila, participated in an International Sculpture Symposium. Subsequently, she visited Halifax, Toronto, Ottawa, Kansas City and Vermont. Her work has been featured in solo drawing exhibitions, and in 1977, Canada Post issued a stamp depicting her print, “Fisherman’s Dream.” Her 1985 lithograph entitled “In the Hills” represented the Northwest Territories in the centennial celebration of the National Parks of Canada. Amnesty International, the international human rights organization, selected a drawing by Pitaloosie entitled “Mother and Child” to use for their 1990 Christmas card. She was also one of nine featured artists in the acclaimed exhibition, Isumavut: The Artistic Expression of Nine Cape Dorset Women, which opened at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in the fall of 1994. Pitaloosie’s husband, Pauta, passed away in Cape Dorset in June of 2009 at the age of 93. In 2004, both she and Pauta were appointed members of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts, in recognition of their life’s work and contributions to Canadian art.

SOURCE: Dorset Fine Arts (www.dorsetfinearts.com)
HOW TO SELL
AVAILABLE WORKS
HEFFEL’S TOP RESULTS
Proud Young Woman by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $1,000
Pitaloosie Saila
Proud Young Woman
10 1/2 x 10 in, 26.7 x 25.4 cm
etching and aquatint on paper
Estimate: $400 - $600 CDN
Sold for: $1,000 CDN (premium included)
First Nations & Inuit Art on Thursday, August 26, 2021
Woman Spearing Fish by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $468
Pitaloosie Saila
Woman Spearing Fish
19 3/4 x 25 3/4 in, 50.2 x 65.4 cm
1967
crayon and graphite on paper
Estimate: $400 - $600 CDN
Sold for: $468 CDN (premium included)
November 2009 - 3rd Session on Saturday, November 28, 2009
Unekatoati by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $375
Pitaloosie Saila
Unekatoati
14 1/4 x 18 1/2 in, 36.2 x 47 cm
stonecut on paper
Estimate: $300 - $500 CDN
Sold for: $375 CDN (premium included)
Inuit Art | Graphic Works on Thursday, February 27, 2025
Taleelayo by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $375
Pitaloosie Saila
Taleelayo
20 3/4 x 28 1/2 in, 52.7 x 72.4 cm
stonecut on paper
Estimate: $600 - $800 CDN
Sold for: $375 CDN (premium included)
First Nations & Inuit Art on Thursday, August 27, 2020
Amautoatuq (03561/191) by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $313
Pitaloosie Saila
Amautoatuq (03561/191)
34 x 24 3/4 in, 86.3 x 62.9 cm
stonecut and stencil on paper
Estimate: $300 - $500 CDN
Sold for: $313 CDN (premium included)
August 2016 - Part 2 - 2nd Session on Thursday, August 18, 2016
Women Play Games by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $281
Pitaloosie Saila
Women Play Games
18 x 23 1/2 in, 45.7 x 59.7 cm
stonecut and stencil on paper
Estimate: $300 - $500 CDN
Sold for: $281 CDN (premium included)
Inuit Art on Thursday, February 29, 2024
Settling on the Nest by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $250
Pitaloosie Saila
Settling on the Nest
20 x 26 in, 50.8 x 66 cm
stonecut on paper
Estimate: $400 - $600 CDN
Sold for: $250 CDN (premium included)
Inuit Art | Graphic Works on Thursday, August 25, 2022
Marruliak by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $188
Pitaloosie Saila
Marruliak
22 x 21 1/2 in, 55.9 x 54.6 cm
etching and aquatint on paper
Estimate: $300 - $500 CDN
Sold for: $188 CDN (premium included)
Inuit Art on Thursday, August 29, 2024
Arctic Ensemble by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $188
Pitaloosie Saila
Arctic Ensemble
20 x 30 in, 50.8 x 76.2 cm
lithograph on paper
Estimate: $300 - $500 CDN
Sold for: $188 CDN (premium included)
Inuit Art on Thursday, August 29, 2024
In the Hills by Pitaloosie Saila sold for $125
Pitaloosie Saila
In the Hills
22 3/8 x 30 3/8 in, 56.8 x 77.1 cm
lithograph on paper
Estimate: $300 - $500 CDN
Sold for: $125 CDN (premium included)
January 2016 - 1st Session on Thursday, January 28, 2016