Richard Hunt

A n I n t r o d u c t i o n t o
C o n t e m p o r a r y N a t i v e A r t i s t s i n C a n a d a

R i c h a r d H u n t

b. 1951, Alert Bay, British Columbia
First Nations Affiliation: Kwakiutl

Richard Hunt, along with his brother Tony, is the descendant of a long line of significant and respected artists, including grandfather Mungo Martin, and George Hunt, a critical source of knowledge for anthropologist Franz Boas. A carver and painter, Hunt was taught carving by his father Henry, and studied jewelry-making at Camosun College, Victoria, British Columbia. The artist is noted for not hybridizing his art with the forms of other nations, preferring to preserve the traditional forms of his heritage, the expression of which he feels is an act of reclamation. Experienced in rituals and performances for potlatches and feasts, he is also a dancer of the highest ranking. Hunt has carried out many commissions, including the chief carving for the Royal British Columbia Museum's Thunderbird park, and was honoured with the Order of British Columbia (1991) and the Order of Canada (1994).

R E C E N T E X H I B I T I O N S

1998	Voices of Fort Rupert: The Hunt Family Carves. Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, British Columbia
1996	Group Show. Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art, Vancouver, British Columbia
1995	Richard Hunt Kwa-Giulth Sku Kingdom. Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art, Vancouver, British Columbia
1994	Bronze Medal design. Commonwealth Games, Victoria, British Columbia
1993	Speaker's Clock. Legislative Buildings, Northwest Territories
1992	Chiefly Feasts. British Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria, British Columbia First People's Language and Culture Council. Ottawa, Ontario (table) Totem Pole. American Museum of Natural History, New York
1989	Bear Transformation Masks. St. Paul Science Centre, St. Paul, Minnesota
1988	Canadian Pavilion, Expo '88, Brisbane, Australia
1987	Totem Pole. Duncan, British Columbia
1983	Memorial Totem Pole (to the memory of Chief Freddie Williams). Hopetown, British Columbia
1982	CBC Headquarters, Vancouver, British Columbia
1980	City of Arts Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland

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

American Federation of Arts, New York
American Museum of Natural History, New York
Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Québec
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, British Columbia
University Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia

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

"Artist ambassador for First Nations." Kahtou 7, no.18 (18 September 1989): 12.

Campbell, Leslie. "Richard Hunt: Renowned Native carver." Focus on Women 5, no. 9 (June 1993): 52-54.

Holm, Denise. "Native dozen collaborate on furniture art for U.Vic." Victoria Times-Colonist, 26 October 1993, p. B1.

Raab, Diana. "Unconquered Pride visits Minneapolis (Objects of Bright Pride: Minneapolis Institute of Arts)." Kahtou 6, no. 13 (4 July 1988): 9.

Steltzer, Ulli. Indian Artists at Work. Vancouver, British Columbia: J. J. Douglas, 1976.

Stewart, Hillary. Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press, 1979.

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