Billy Gauthier: Sila

22 June - 20 October, 2024

Curated by Darryn Doull

bone sculpture of two birds swimming around each other

Sila is the first mid-career survey by renowned sculptor Billy Gauthier outside of his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. As an artist and activist of Inuit ancestry, Gauthier’s inspiration comes directly from an intimate connection with the land and culture of his home in North West River, Labrador.

For decades, Gauthier has developed his artistic practice into a complex, detailed and vibrantly dynamic body of work. His sculptures are a means to share stories and life experiences. Gauthier explains: “My core belief is Inuit and our lands are synonymous: when our Nunangat is harmed, we become harmed and when our Nunangat heals, we begin to heal. I understand my work as a form of activism, carrying messages about the importance of caring for our land, animals and resources.” Ultimately, he brings into focus the shared threads of humanity, exploring the intrinsic faults that come with globalization, industrialized food processes, community-level impacts of extraction industries and modernization efforts that do not center indigenous populations.

KWAG is thrilled to announce that we will be publishing the first major monographic publication for Billy Gauthier. Designed by Mark Bennett, one of the top designers working today, and featuring a series of commissioned essays and interviews, this project will critically ground Gauthier’s work. Watch for updates and an official publication launch currently planned for Fall 2024.

Meet the Artist

Billy Gauthier (b. 1978, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL) is an artist and activist of Inuit ancestry currently residing in North West River, Labrador. He was drawing and making art from a young age and began to carve in 1996 after meeting his cousin John Terriak, a renowned Inuit sculptor. Gauthier’s work is widely recognized for his tremendous skill with traditional materials and the extent to which he pushes himself and his materials’ limits.

His sculptures have narrative qualities that are inspired by personal memories, Inuit cosmologies and mutual respect for the land and its natural resources. Gauthier describes a strong link between his experiences on the land and his art practice. “I'm constantly trying to change my style and learn new ways to manipulate the materials,” he says. “I've always been evolving and changing. I'm curious what's around the corner. Whenever I go hunting and fishing, I'm usually the annoying person to take out because I never want to leave. And that's the way I look at my artwork, too. What else can I create? How far can I push the materials?”

He has received many accolades for his work, including being named Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC) Emerging Artist of the Year in 2011. His work has been collected by many passionate individuals as well as by public and private institutions across the country. Gauthier is represented by Nigel Reading, (formerly of Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia).

Help KWAG acquire Billy Gauthier’s sculpture A Beautiful Struggle.

Goal: $28,000

A Beautiful Struggle is inspired by Gauthier’s idol Kenojuak Ashevak and is the culmination of his immense technical and material knowledge. It reflects his commitment to the issues of the North, the realities of the North West River region in Labrador, and his belief in the power of art to bring people together with hope. Gauthier uses beauty as an initial visual seduction that helps viewers fall in love with his home, land and culture. The beauty doesn’t hide the real issues impacting cultural survival in the North, but provides an entry point for audiences to engage difficult subjects that are very much part of colonial relationships across these lands in 2024.

If this work resonated with you, help KWAG acquire it for KWAG's Permanent Collection. This will ensure that you and yours can view this outstanding work of art locally for years to come.

Make a Donation

Related Programs:

Opening Celebration with DJ King Kadeem and Filmmaker Jennie Williams
National Indigenous Peoples Day and Full Moon
Friday, 21 June
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Artist Talk + Tour with Billy Gauthier co-presented by Filmmaker Jennie Williams
Sunday, 23 June, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Curatorial Tours with Darryn Doull
Sunday, 28 July, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, 12 September, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Inuit Film Series
Thursday, 27 June, 7:00 p.m.

Evan’s Drum, 2021, 14:00 mins.
by Ossie Michelin

Being Prepared, 2021, 09:00 mins.
by Carol Kunnuk

Nalujuk Night, 2021, 13:00 mins.
by Jennie Williams

Thursday, 25 July, 7:00 p.m.

Angry Inuk, 2016, 01:25:00 mins.
by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril

Sunday, 15 September, 1:00 p.m.

Arctic Song, 2021, 06:00 mins.
by Germain Arnattaujuq, Neil Christopher & Louise Flaherty

The Bear Facts, 2010, 03:00 mins.
by Jonathan Wright

Shaman, 2017, 05:00 mins.
by Echo Henoche

Three Thousand, 2017, 14:00 mins.
by asinnajaq

Images

Header - Billy Gauthier, Sedna’s Tears (detail), 2008. Serpentine, labradorite, slate. 31.8 x 30.5 x 6.4 cm. Collection of Chris Bredt and Jamie Cameron. Photo courtesy of Nigel Reading formerly of Spirit Wrestler Gallery.
Billy Gauthier, Northern Voices (Owl / Human Transformation), 2008. Serpentine, antler (Moose and Caribou), horn (Muskox), slate. 22.9 x 21.6 x 12.7 cm. Collection of Chris Bredt and Jamie Cameron. Photo courtesy of Nigel Reading formerly of Spirit Wrestler Gallery.
Billy Gauthier, Northern Frigidaire Diet, 2012. Serpentine, antler (Moose and Caribou), Muskox horn, slate. 8.9 x 10.2 x 8.9 cm. Collection of Chris Bredt and Jamie Cameron. Photo courtesy of Nigel Reading formerly of Spirit Wrestler Gallery.
Billy Gauthier, Swimming Loons (My Tribute to Kenojuak Ashevak) (detail), 2010. Muskox horn, moose antler, serpentine, labradorite. 45.7 x 45.7 x 30.5 cm. Collection of Chris Bredt and Jamie Cameron. Photo courtesy of Nigel Reading formerly of Spirit Wrestler Gallery.
Billy Gauthier, Northern Voices (Owl / Human Transformation), 2008. Serpentine, antler (Moose and Caribou), horn (Muskox), slate. 22.9 x 21.6 x 12.7 cm. Collection of Chris Bredt and Jamie Cameron. Photo courtesy of Nigel Reading formerly of Spirit Wrestler Gallery.
Billy Gauthier bio photo, provided by the Artist.

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