Human

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.

In oral traditions across the Northwest Coast there are many human heroes and legends. These figures are depicted in many ways. Some figures might represent a chief or shaman, while others an ancestor. Ancestors are incredibly important in Northwest Coast culture; thus, you will often see human portraits in the artwork depicting an ancestor figure.

Freestanding Human figures can range in size from small amulets to large-scale poles several feet high. As amulets, they are often a guardian symbol whereas the larger human figures can represent a welcoming figure. Human-like personifications of the sun and wind are common in Northwest Coast artwork as well.
41 items

The Messenger
Dempsey Bob (Tahltan)

2000 Edition 2/6 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and...

2000 Edition 2/6 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descripti...

$30,000.00

Ancestor Mask
Tom Patterson (Nuu-chah-nulth)

2002 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals tha...

2002 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions. Humans ...

$4,400.00

Killer Whale Transforming Into Human
Phil Gray (Tsimshian)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.Killer Whale ...

$18,000.00

"The Artist"
Joe David (Nuu-chah-nulth)

A tribute to Art Thompson 

A tribute to Art Thompson 

$7,000.00

Happy Blowhole
Robert Davidson (Haida)

1992 Edition 12/12

1992 Edition 12/12

$25,000.00

Communication Panel
Don Yeomans (Haida)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.

$65,000.00

“Ḵ’aay.yas Gan Unsid” (Elders’ Knowledge)
Cori Savard (Haida)

Edition /150 Available Framed for $800 CAD. Please contact the gallery directly.   “Where does ou...

Edition /150 Available Framed for $800 CAD. Please contact the gallery directly.   “Where does our knowledge come from? To whom are we accountable for its survival? As we continue the work of reclaiming our culture, we honour the Ancestors’ teachings. We honour the Elders who carry this knowledge forward for us. We honour the children who will one day take up this work. From time immemorial we have accepted this responsibility. Our potential is illimitable when we listen to, and learn from on...

$300.00

Diving into the First Plumage Paddle
Travis Peal (Nisga'a)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions. Eagle is an ...

$2,000.00

Canoe Mask
Art Thompson (Nuu-chah-nulth)

1992

1992

$16,000.00

Warrior Dreams of Battle
Stan Bevan (Tahltan)

1992 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals tha...

1992 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions. Bear is...

$5,500.00

"The Initiate"
Joe David (Nuu-chah-nulth)

2006

2006

$8,500.00

An Episode in the Haida Raven Myth
Bill Reid (Haida)

This print is only available framed.  Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often inc...

This print is only available framed.  Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories...

$400.00

Chief Mask
Godfrey Hunt (Kwakwaka'wakw)

$1,800.00

Drifted Ashore House
Klatle-Bhi (Kwakwaka'wakw)

Drifted Ashore House is the name of a Tlingit clan from Tongass, Alaska and speaks to Klatle-bhi’...

Drifted Ashore House is the name of a Tlingit clan from Tongass, Alaska and speaks to Klatle-bhi’s family lineage. It was a Tlingit woman from this clan that married a Kwakiutl man, and was lineage to the Hunt family of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation; the lineage of Klatle-bhi’s family. The panel is a representation of the long history he has to the Tlingit people, and this clan in particular, with the two faces on the panel meant to represent the male and female ancestors and balance of that line....

$55,000.00

"Bella Coola Face" Mask
Joe Peters Jr. (Kwakwaka'wakw)

1984 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals tha...

1984 Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.Humans a...

$2,200.00

Portrait Rattle
Glen Edwards (Salish)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions. Humans appea...

$700.00

Killer Whale Transforming Panel
Don Yeomans (Haida)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions. Killer Whale...

$25,000.00

Raven with Two Humans Bracelet
Robert Davidson (Haida)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.Raven is one ...

$40,000.00

Thunderbird and Human Model Pole
Charlie James (Kwakwaka'wakw)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.Thunderbird i...

$3,200.00

Portrait Pendant
Russell Smith (Kwakwaka'wakw)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.In oral tradi...

$900.00

Killer Whale Rattle
Ken McNeil (Tahltan)

Dimensions with base: 10 ¾" H x 4" W x 7" D   Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast o...

Dimensions with base: 10 ¾" H x 4" W x 7" D   Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral h...

$8,000.00

Eagles and Human Bracelet
Corey Moraes (Tsimshian)

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are...

Indigenous artwork on the Pacific Northwest Coast often incorporates figures and animals that are related to crest symbols. Crests have been passed down through families and have varying meanings depending on the context and association with a nation, clan, or family. The figures depicted in contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous artwork also have varying meanings but there are some common characteristics from a range of sources, including oral histories and artist descriptions.Eagle is an e...

$800.00

Helping Hands
Ses Saunders (Nuxalk)

Edition /60 Available Framed for $800 CAD. Please contact the gallery directly.

Edition /60 Available Framed for $800 CAD. Please contact the gallery directly.

$450.00