Beau Dick
(Kwakwaka'wakw, 1955–2017)
Kingfisher Mask
1998
Carved red cedar, acrylic paint, shredded red cedar bark, and abalone shell inlay
Hand-signed, titled, and dated by the artist (verso)
27 × 11.5 × 10 in. (68.6 × 29.2 × 25.4 cm)
Carved in 1998, this Kingfisher Mask by Chief Beau Dick (Walas Gwayum) exemplifies the artist's legendary command of Kwakwaka'wakw sculptural forms and traditional crest iconography. The mask features the kingfisher's characteristic elongated beak, dynamic crest fins, and crisp formline features painted in a sophisticated palette of slate grey, black, and natural unpainted cedar. The upper crown is elevated with square inlays of iridescent abalone shell, while a lush fringe of shredded red cedar bark surrounds the head, imbuing the sculpture with ceremonial vitality and tactile richness.
In Kwakwaka'wakw culture, the Kingfisher is celebrated as a swift, precise hunter and a symbol of patience, instinct, and prosperity. Beau Dick was renowned for bridging the sacred world of potlatch ceremonialism with contemporary fine art, carving masks that were not merely decorative objects, but living vessels infused with spiritual presence. Executed during a pivotal period of his mature artistic career in 1998, this work demonstrates his mastery of traditional Northwest Coast carving...
Category
Early 2000s Figurative Sculptures