1956–

Born in 1956 near Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Mary Eli Parr grew up surrounded by the rich artistic traditions of the region. She is a descendant of the celebrated Kinngait artist known simply as Parr, whose drawings and prints are an important part of the history of Inuit art.

Although Parr began drawing at a young age, she developed her artistic practice more seriously in 2017, when she began presenting her work to the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative. Her drawings draw upon memories of life on the land, as well as imagery from her dreams and recollections of earlier generations.

Animals, birds, people in camp, and objects from everyday life are recurring subjects in her work. She is particularly interested in depicting the tools and belongings associated with an earlier period of Inuit life, transforming personal memories and cultural knowledge into intimate and evocative images.

Source: Dorset Fine Arts / Kinngait Studios.