Ningeosiaq Ashoona - Fish - Sanikiluaq Inuit Argil

Updated September 18, 2026

A powerful and elegant contemporary work of Canadian Inuit art, this 2020 stone carving by Ningeosiaq Ashoona of Sanikiluaq presents a boldly stylized fish rendered in the characteristic dark grey Belcher Islands stone that collectors often describe as argillite. From the primary profile view the form reads as a single rhythmic silhouette with a pronounced dorsal fin and stepped tail, the smooth satin surface accentuating the continuous curve of the back and the soft volume of the head. Rotating to the quarter angles, the sculptor’s hand becomes increasingly evident in the crisp gouged channels at the gill and tail, and in the carefully drilled beadlike lateral line that runs cleanly along both sides of the body, catching light like a constellation of small highlights. The opposite flank shows the same disciplined symmetry and balance, and the rear quarter confirms the dimensional fullness of the carving with the tail neatly undercut to lift the figure visually from the base plane. A close inspection image documents a narrow hairline along the base of the dorsal fin that appears to be a natural vein or minor stress line in the stone rather than an open structural crack, along with the expected light handling marks and faint rubs to high points that come with display. The final image shows the included Government of Canada certified authenticity tag completed in hand for the artist Ningeosiaq Ashoona, the community Sanikiluaq, the title Fish, and the date 2020, offered with the sculpture. Measuring an impressive 14 1/2 inches long by 2 inches deep by 9 inches tall, this substantial Inuit stone carving delivers exceptional presence on a shelf or pedestal. For advanced collectors and designers seeking museum quality Canadian Indigenous art, this is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a signed and certified Sanikiluaq work with strong sculptural form, refined toolwork, and the cool graphite sheen and weight that connoisseurs prize in Belcher Islands argillite.<br>5775 <br> <br>

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