Brian Walker II

Artist Brian Walker II is Iñupiaq from King Island on his mother’s side and Deg Hitʼan Athabascan on his father’s side. He grew up in Eagle River, training in traditional games (Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo Indian Olympics, & Arctic Winter Games). He spent his teenage years carving with his uncle Tony and learning stories and songs from his grandmother Helen Pushruk. He says, “I was learning from my grandma and then immediately going over to my uncle’s house to carve King Island masks to dance with. It was a cool mix of absorbing traditional knowledge and then having a chance to immediately implement it.” From there, he went on to study with Sugpiaq master artists Alvin Amason and Perry Eaton. He later continued his studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he graduated with his BFA in studio arts with an emphasis in sculpture in 2020. 

MORE FROM THE BLOG
WATCH THE ARTIST'S LIVESTREAM