Etidloie Adla

One original hand-carved sculpture by Inuit artist, Joanie Ragee. One dancing bear carved out of serpentine.

Born in 1982 (Cape Dorset, Nunavut)

Etidloie Adla (Etulu Etidlui; Etoolook; Itulu; Etidloosie) is one of Cape Dorset’s most promising artists. Coming from a talented family, his two grandfathers, Audla Pee and Kulai Adla, were respected sculptors who influenced the work of their young grandson. At the age of eleven, Etidloie was watching Audla making birds. He soon wanted to try out his grandfather’s tools. His first pieces were simple sculptures of the heads of birds or seals, but soon after he began to illustrate more complex subjects. Etodloie also learned a lot from watching Nuna Parr and his youngest son work on bear sculptures.

Etidloie brothers, Ashevak Adla and the late Mappaluk Adla, are also widely recognized sculptors in the world of Inuit art.

The artist’s earliest pieces were simple sculptures of the heads of birds or seals, but soon after he began to illustrate more complex works. He is very good at depicting walking and dancing bears. He sculpts serpentine, a metamorphic rock that is green, brown and black in colour. Etidloie’s style is distinctive and fluid, with an attention to detail and realism.

Etidloie is coveted by art collectors as well as galleries for his refined technique.