Carved in 2021 by Mary Tutsuitok of Arviat, this powerful Inuit sculpture titled Family is executed in dark grey-black serpentine - commonly called soapstone - and displays the bold, block-form aesthetic for which Arviat carvers are admired. The forward-canted guardian head with incised features rises from a rounded body whose flanks carry additional faces carved in low relief, evoking generations gathered as one. Tutsuitok leaves purposeful tool marks across the matte surface, giving the stone an alive texture while allowing natural lighter inclusions to read as part of the narrative of the rock. Around the neck she has added a traditional-style beaded collar composed of green and black strands with gold-tone tube beads and small brown terminal beads - a striking contrast that animates the sculpture without obscuring the carving. The work is accompanied by its original Canadian authenticity card stating Artist Mary Tutsuitok - Community Arviat - Date 2021 - Title Family, and the flat underside bears a circular impressed mark with an old retail barcode label still present. Dimensions 5 1-2 in x 5 in x 9 in tall. Condition is excellent with only minor handling rubs and natural inclusions consistent with the stone and the artist’s hand-finished surfaces - no cracks, repairs, or bead losses observed in the photos. For collectors of Canadian Indigenous art and serious buyers of Inuit sculpture seeking an expressive Arviat work that balances minimalist faces with ceremonial adornment, this certified Mary Tutsuitok Family in dark serpentine soapstone offers presence, authenticity, and display impact.
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