b. 1946, Opitsaht Village, Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
First Nations Affiliation: Nuu-Chah-Nulth (Nootka)

A reputed mask-maker known for his individualized hybrid of various Northwest Coast styles, Joe David's work as a printer, jewelry-maker, and carver has contributed to this region’s artistic revival. David has trained and worked as a commercial artist; he has also apprenticed with carvers Duane Pasco, Frank Charlie, and Russell Spatz, and studied graphic design with Bill Holm. Correspondingly, he has mentored other carvers and helped found the Northwest Coast Indian Artists Guild in 1977, for which he has created serigraphs. David also distributed his serigraphs at a potlatch held in 1977 in memory of his father. Included in his commissions for totem poles are those in Vancouver, British Columbia (for Expo '74) and Spokane, Washington.

R E C E N T   E X H I B I T I O N S

S E L E C T E D   C O L L E C T I O N S

Alberni Valley Museum, Alberni, British Columbia
Campbell River Museum, Campbell River, British Columbia
City of Seattle, Washington
City of Vancouver, British Columbia
Heritage Centre, Inc. Collection, Pine Ridge Indian School, Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
MacMillan Bloedel Collection, Vancouver, British Columbia
Riveredge Foundation, Devonian Group, Calgary, Alberta
Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia
University of BC Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver City Museum, Vancouver, British Columbia

S E L E C T E D   B I B L I O G R A P H Y

"Artist flies high in BA gallery [Art work painted on aircraft]." Vancouver Sun, 11 June 1997, p. D1, D2.

Bourquin, Irene."Tradition, spiritualitat und polit-kampf." Kunstforum International, no. 113 (May-June 1991): 182-191.

Canadian Museum of Civilization, ed. In the Shadow of the Sun: Perspectives on Contemporary Native Art. Hull, Québec: The Museum, 1993.

Hall, Edwin, Margaret Blackman, and Vincent Rickard. Northwest Coast Indian Graphics: An Introduction to Silkscreen Prints. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press, 1981.

Macnair, Peter, Alan Hoover, and Kevin Neary. The Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art. Vancouver, British Columbia: Douglas & McIntyre, 1984. Originally published: Victoria, BC: British Columbia
Provincial Museum, 1980.

Mills, Jeanette C. "The Mears Island controversy and Joe David: Art in support of a cause." American Indian Art Magazine 14 (Autumn 1989): 60-69.

Nation to Nation: Artists from the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth & Kwakwaka'wakw Nations. Victoria, British Columbia: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1994.

Stewart, Hilary. Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast. Vancouver, British Columbia: Douglas & McIntyre, 1979.