Artist: Jessie Oonark (1906 - 1985)
Nationality: Canadian
Movement: Modern Canadian School
Media: Wall Hangings, Embroidery
Influences:

Biography:
Growing up in the Inuit tribe in northern Canada, Jessie Oonark learned needlework and embroidery from her mother. In 1963, she began using her mastery of those skills to create intricate and colorful wall hangings with images similar to ancient Egyptian art. Oonark also created drawings that functioned as sketches for her wall hangings, but were equally artistic. Along with elements of mixed media such as felt and caribou hide, Oonark’s pieces incorporated traditional Inuit imagery.

Artworks in Museum Collections: (60)
Click the artwork titles below to see actual examples of artwork or works of art relevant to works by Jessie Oonark.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts -
Artist: Jessie Tarbox Beals Title: Mrs. Dwight K. Yerxa as Queen Isabella in the Pageant,
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts -
Artist: Jessie Tarbox Beals Title: Pagent of the Civic Players of Minneapolis, The Minneapolis Institute
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Thomas Hart Benton Jessie James Lithograph 1935
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts -
Artist: Jessie Tarbox Beals Title: Pharoah Character from the Minneapolis Civic Player"s Pageant "Swords and
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Jessie Wilcox Smith Have You a Red Cross Service Flag? - World War I Poster lithograph poster 1918
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Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, Jessie Tarbox Beals (Canada, 1871 - 1942)  (Artist), circa 1930, Gelatin-silver print
Museum of Fine Arts -
Dennis Miller Bunker, American, 1861-1890 Samuel Torrey Morse 1887 Oil on canvas 110.49 x 91.76
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Buckle, Jessie Marion King (Scotland, Kilpatrick, 1875-3-20 - 1949-8-13) , 1913, Silver and enamel
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Buckle, Jessie Marion King (Scotland, Kilpatrick, 1875-3-20 - 1949-8-13) , 1913, Silver and enamel
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Costume Sketch of Jessie Ralph as Mrs. Weaver in the 20th Century Fox Studios Production, ’Drums Along the Mohawk’, Royer (United States, 1904-05-17 - 1988-02-21) , 1939, Watercolor on paper
The Metropolitan Museum of Art -
Marie Françoise de La Cropte de St. Abre, Marquise d"Argence Jean Marc Nattier (French, 1685-1766)Oil
Museum of Fine Arts -
Unidentified artist, Franco-Dutch or German, 17th-18th century Aristocrats and Royalty at an Event in the
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marguerite Zorach, American, 1887-1968 Adam and Eve 1920 Watercolor over graphite pencil on paper 34.13
The Metropolitan Museum of Art -
Louise Henriette de Bourbon-Conti (1726-1759), Later Duchesse d"Orléans Jean Marc Nattier (French, 1685-1766)Oil on canvas;
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Cream jug England, about 1750-52 Soft-paste porcelain 6.1 x 12.9 x 11.8
Museum of Fine Arts -
Worcester factory, England Teapot England, about 1750 Soft-paste porcelain 10.5 x 15.9 cm (4 1/8
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Teabowl England, about 1750-52 Soft-paste porcelain 5.3 cm (2 1/16 in.) Museum
Museum of Fine Arts -
Worcester factory, England Octagonal cup England, about 1752 Soft-paste porcelain 5.6 x 8.6 x 5.6
Museum of Fine Arts -
Worcester factory, England Cream jug England, about 1752-53 Soft-paste porcelain 5.6 x 11.5 x 7.8
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Beaker England, about 1745-49 Soft-paste porcelain 7.62 cm (3 in.) Museum of
Museum of Fine Arts -
Worcester factory, England Teabowl and saucer England, about 1760 Soft-paste porcelain 4.2 cm (1 5/8
Museum of Fine Arts -
Bow Factory, England Teabowl and saucer England, about 1752-58 Soft-paste porcelain 3.8 cm (1 1/2
Museum of Fine Arts -
Bow Factory, England Sugar bowl England, about 1755 Soft-paste porcelain 11.4 cm (4 1/2 in.)
Museum of Fine Arts -
Longton Hall factory, England Cream jug England, about 1755 Soft-paste porcelain 8.25 cm (3 1/4
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Waste bowl England, about 1750-52 Soft-paste porcelain 6 cm (2 3/8 in.)
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Goat-and-bee jug Cream jug England, about 1745-49 Soft-paste porcelain 12.06 cm (4
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Teapot England, about 1750-52 Soft-paste porcelain 12.06 x 16.83 cm (4 3/4
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Tea canister about 1745-49 Soft-paste porcelain 16.19 cm (6 3/8 in.) Museum
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Saucer England, about 1750-52 Soft-paste porcelain 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.) Museum
Museum of Fine Arts -
Longton Hall factory, England Teapot England, about 1755 Soft-paste porcelain 11.43 cm (4 1/2 in.)
Museum of Fine Arts -
Unknown English, Japanese Tea scoop England, about 1745-50 Soft-paste porcelain 9.21 cm (3 5/8 in.)
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Teapot England, about 1745-49 Soft-paste porcelain 17.78 cm (7 in.) Museum of
Museum of Fine Arts -
Chelsea Factory, England Teapot England, about 1745-49 Soft-paste porcelain 10.16 cm (4 in.) Museum of
Museum of Fine Arts -
Longton Hall factory, England Teapot England, about 1755 Soft-paste porcelain 13.97 cm (5 1/2 in.)
Museum of Fine Arts -
Jean-Baptiste Frénet, French, 1814-1889 Young Student in Uniform 1855-60 Photograph, salt print Sheet: 9 5/16
Museum of Fine Arts -
Frederick H. Evans, English, 1853-1943 Portrait of Barbara Evans about 1905 Photograph, platinum print Sheet:
Museum of Fine Arts -
Johann Adam Klein, German, 1792-1875 Woman in Sled with an Officer on Skates (Der Eisschlitten)
Museum of Fine Arts -
Giulio Parigi, Italian, 1570-1635 or 1636 A Fantastic Barge Decorated with Dolphins and Carrying Musicians
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Nicholas Sprimont, 1716-1770 Salver London, England England, (London), 1744-45 Silver 8.8 cm (3
Museum of Fine Arts -
Possibly by James Waters, free 1737–died before 1796 Cream Jug London, England England, (London), 20th
Museum of Fine Arts -
Henri Alexandre Georges Regnault, French, 1843-1871 Anatomical Studies of a Horse for "Automedon with Horses
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Peter Taylor, mark entered 1740 Sugar Box London, England England, (London), 1747-48 Silver
Museum of Fine Arts -
Johannes Theodorus Toorop, Dutch, 1858-1928 Panis Angelicus The Netherlands, 1894 Graphite and watercolor heightened with
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Peter Taylor, mark entered 1740 Tea Caddy London, England England, (London), 1747-48 Silver
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Unmarked Possibly by Nicholas Sprimont, 1716-1770 Cream Jug London, England England, (London), possibly
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Peter Taylor, mark entered 1740 Tea Caddy London, England England, (London), 1747-48 Silver
Museum of Fine Arts -
Charles Paul Furne fils, French, active in 1870-1880 Douarnenez, A Fishing Village in Brittany 1858-59
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Nicholas Sprimont, 1716-1770 Basket and Liner London, England England, (London), 1745-46 Silver 19.4
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Nicholas Sprimont, 1716-1770 Dish Sweetmeat Dish London, England England, (London), 1745-46 Silver H.
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Nicholas Sprimont, 1716-1770 Tea Canister London, England England, (London), 1744-45 Silver H. 14.9
Museum of Fine Arts -
Marked by Nicholas Sprimont, 1716-1770 Sugar Box London, England England, (London), 1744-45 Silver H. 17.9
Museum of Fine Arts -
Jean Baptiste Greuze, French, 1725-1805 Young Woman in a White Hat about 1780 Oil on
Museum of Fine Arts -
Hercules Segers, Dutch, about 1589-90–about 1638 Rocky Landscape, a Church Tower in the Distance about
The Metropolitan Museum of Art -
Emilie Bertie Pott, 1781 George Romney (British, 1734-1802)Oil on canvas; 29 3/4 x 24 7/8
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Dorcas Munroe Sampler with family tree Polychrome silk on linen circa 1800
The Metropolitan Museum of Art -
Lady Maitland (Catherine Connor, died 1865) Sir Henry Raeburn (Scottish, 1756-1823)Oil on canvas; 49 3/4
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Blanche Dillaye Chinatown, Monterey Etching on silk 19th - 20th century
The Metropolitan Museum of Art -
Lady Harriet Maria Conyngham (died 1843), Later Lady Somerville Sir Thomas Lawrence (British, 1769-1830)Oil on
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Mary Hart Sampler calico cat and verse; inscribed, "Mary Hart 1800" Polychrome silk on linen 1800
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Albert Bierstadt View of Donner Lake, California oil on paper mounted on canvas 1871 - 1872

Artnews Articles and Exhibition Information: (1)
Click on any of the links below to read about artnews or exhibitions related to Oonark

University of Richmond Museums, Marsh Gallery: Power of Thought:The Prints of Jessie Oonark
Jessie Oonark Born in the Back River region of the Canadian Central Arctic, Oonark led a traditional semi-nomadic existence until the late 1950s when the depletion of caribou (a major food source) forced her and her peers to move permanentl...

Further Artwork and Information:

Jessie Oonark Inuit Artist presented by Houston North Gallery
Jessie Oonark (1906 - 1985) Biography, Artwork Images, Exhibitions, Reviews
Jessie Oonark Online
Jessie Oonark
Jessie Oonark prints presented by Houston North Gallery
Artist profile: Jessie Oonark (Baker Lake)
Nunavut - Arts & Crafts - Jessie Oonark Ltd.
CCCA Artist Profile for Jessie Oonark
The Art of Jessie Oonark
Power of Thought: The Prints of Jessie Oonark

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