Phil Gray (artist)

Phil Gray is a Tsimshian and Mikisew Cree Northwest Coast artist who specializes in wood carvings (masks, poles, sculptures and drums). His work uses traditional technique and features imagery from legends.^[1] In 2014, Gray was awarded a British Columbia Creative Achievement Award in Aboriginal Art from the Government of British Columbia.^[2][3]

Gray began carving in 1999 with Salish artist, Gerry Sheena. He also had the opportunity to study Advanced Design under acclaimed Haida artist, Robert Davidson (artist). He works primarily in cedar, alder and boxwood. He creates masks, panels, poles, sculptures and drums. He belongs to the Killerwhale (Gispuwada) Clan and the majority of his works are created in his traditional Tsimshian style.

Artistic Work

Gray's work includes carving totem poles, painting bentwood boxes, and making cedar masks. In September 2003, he had three of his pieces donated to the Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington State. In 2005, he was featured in the 'Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation 2' exhibit at the Museum of Art and Design in New York. In the winter of 2007, he completed a large commission of sculptural works for Sonora Resort on Sonora Island, BC. Also in 2007, he completed the Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program at the Native Education College in Vancouver, under Kwakwaka’wakw and Haida artist, Dan Wallace (artist).

Exhibitions

Gray was included in two major exhibitions in 2009. The first was the 'Challenging Traditions' exhibition at Ontario's McMichael Canadian Art Collection, a show that was dedicated to exploring innovative and experimental works from the Northwest Coast. The second was 'Continuum: Vision and Creativity on the Northwest Coast' at Vancouver's Bill Reid Gallery, which highlighted 23 established Aboriginal artists from BC, Washington State and Alaska. In September 2009, he completed a pair of large red cedar doors here in Lattimer Gallery, which depicted a 'Grandmother Moon' design. In February 2010, Gray designed the helmet of gold medal-winning skeleton racer Jon Montgomery. Montgomery held the helmet throughout the Olympic awards ceremony.

References