A second installation of promised gifts to the AGO provides a window into the lives and communities of 16 distinguished Inuit artists.  

A selection of prints, stone carvings, and drawings by Inuit artists is on view in the R. Samuel McLaughlin Gallery (gallery 201) as part of the installation New Acquisitions: Selections from the Dr. Ronald M. Haynes Collection. These works come to the AGO as part of a gift from Dr. Ronald M. Haynes, a Toronto-based collector who began to acquire art in the 1970s. Much of his holdings include works by distinguished Inuit artists, and the selection of works currently on view represents his dedication to Inuit sculpture and works on paper. This is the second installation from Haynes’ collection, the first featuring works by Kenojuak Ashevak (1972-2013) in 2025.  

Spanning from the 1960s through to the 1990s, the works on view come from a prolific period of Inuit art making. This installation highlights how the artists on view incorporated family, community, everyday life, and natural elements into their work.  

Pudlo Pudlat. Saddled Muskox, 1979. Lithograph on paper, Sheet: 76.6 × 56.7 cm. Promised gift of Dr. Ronald M. Haynes. © Estate of Pudlo Pudlat. Reproduced with the permission of Dorset Fine Arts

This includes Pudlo Pudlat (1916-1992), one of the many Inuit artists who depicted the incorporation of modern technology into their communities. Many of Pudlat’s drawings illustrate how traditional nomadic Inuit lifestyles merged with machinery. He was especially known for his drawings of flying machines, which he often blended with traditional Inuit aesthetics.  

Reflecting on the integration of modern technology into his community, Pudlat shared: “I have seen so many changes in my life, and I like to express my thoughts. In the past, families would drift away on ice floes and never be seen again, but now a helicopter goes out to rescue them, and there is great rejoicing. Airplanes and helicopters make me happy because they are able to rescue hunters.” 

Pudlo Pudlat. Muskox Migration, 1989. Stonecut on paper, Sheet: 49.8 × 63.5 cm. Promised gift of Dr. Ronald M. Haynes. © Estate of Pudlo Pudlat. Reproduced with the permission of Dorset Fine Arts

Pudlat was a prolific artist, creating approximately 4,500 drawings and 190 prints during his career. Among his many achievements, he was the first Inuk artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.  

One drawing and two prints by Pudlat are currently on view in the installation alongside works on paper by Pitseolak Ashoona (1904-1983), soapstone sculptures by Mathew Aqigaaq (1940-2010), and many more. 

Experience life up North through the eyes of 16 Inuit artists by visiting New Acquisitions: Selections from the Dr. Ronald M. Haynes Collection, now on view on Level 2 of the AGO in the R. Samuel McLaughlin Gallery (gallery 201).  

Curated by Renée der Avoird, AGO, Associate Curator of Canadian Art, these works are all promised gifts to the AGO.