Description
Kwakiutl Grouse Mask by Beau Dick
Date: 1990
Artist: Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka’wakw) — Beau Dick (1955–2017)
Materials: Yellow cedar, cedar bark, black, red, and blue pigments
Dimensions: 19 in. W × 15 ½ in. H × 5 in. D
Description
This striking Grouse Mask carved in 1990 by master Kwakiutl artist Beau Dick displays the bold sculptural presence and expressive surface treatment characteristic of his work. The face is carved from yellow cedar, its contours softened into rounded cheek forms and a prominent beak‑like mouth. The surface is animated with blue dot patterning, red cheek markings, and black eyebrows, creating a lively interplay of colour and formline.
A tall rectangular crest rises from the forehead, painted with vertical black bars — a graphic element that reinforces the mask’s upward energy. The mask is framed with bundles of cedar bark, giving it the dynamic, textural “hair” seen in traditional Kwakwaka’wakw dance regalia. The overall expression is alert and slightly stern, consistent with grouse iconography used in winter ceremonial dances.
Signed on the reverse: “Real Grouse Mask 1990 Beau Dick.”
Provenance
- Purchased from Seahawk Auction, Burnaby, BC — November 2002
- Private British Columbia Collection
Artist Profile: Beau Dick (1955–2017)
Beau Dick, also known by his traditional name Walas Gwa’yam, was one of the most influential Kwakwaka’wakw artists of the modern era. Raised in Alert Bay within a lineage of master carvers, Dick trained under Doug Cranmer, absorbing the disciplined formline and innovative design sensibility that shaped his own celebrated style.
His work ranges from masks and headdresses to monumental poles, many created for potlatches and community ceremonies. Dick’s carvings are known for their emotional immediacy, bold paintwork, and deep cultural grounding. Beyond his artistic achievements, he was a respected cultural leader and activist, known internationally for his copper‑breaking ceremonies protesting governmental policies.
Dick’s work has been exhibited at major institutions including the UBC Museum of Anthropology, National Gallery of Canada, and Documenta 14 in Kassel and Athens. Today, he is recognized as a central figure in Northwest Coast art history, with pieces held in significant private and public collections worldwide.
