Tommy Takpanie Jr.

Tommy Takpanie Jr. is a full-time sculptor from Iqaluit, NU, who is known for his polar bear sculptures.

Takpanie’s father, Tommy Sr., is also known for his polar bears, although he usually depicts them dancing, where Takpanie Jr. shows them in realistic motion. Carving bears is something of a legacy in the Takpanie family, as brothers Pauloosie and Jackie are also known for their bears. Siblings Jamasee and Mary are part of the family sculpting tradition too, while sister Kunnuk is a poet. “We’re a polar bear family” says Takpanie Jr., adding that all he ever receives as commission requests are polar bears [1]. One small bear takes him about an hour to carve, and he will sell them for between 80 and 100 dollars [2].

Striding Polar Bear (n.d.) is a good example of Takpanie Jr.’s realistic approach to form. Depicted in mid-stride, as many of his bears are, this ursine specimen lumbers forward with his head upright, assessing the viewer with a level stare.

Even though bears are his family legacy, Takpanie Jr. says that the polar is truly his favourite subject matter [3]. His works have travelled both nationally and internationally, and been prime specimens in exhibits specifically showcasing bears, such as The Bear: Sculpture at Albers Gallery in San Francisco, California, in 1993.