Artist’s Legal Name: Billy Merkosak  

Also known as: Billy

Artist lives in: Pond Inlet, NU

Community artist is from: Pond Inlet, NU

Categories of art practiced: Carving Stone; Carving Antlers; Carving Ivory Drawing In Pencil/Ink; Painting in Acrylic

Preferred materials & subjects: Carving Granite; Ivory; Soapstone; Wood; Antler;

Year of Birth: 1966

Artist’s background: Billy grew up in Pond Inlet. He has always been interested in caving and often watched other people in the community making things out of soapstone and bones when he was growing up. He had numerous jobs as a teenager but found that carving was what he liked doing best and started to pursue it, and taught himself how to carve. Not only does he carve, he also does ink drawing and acrylic painting. Billy likes to make the Inuit legend stories come alive in his carvings. He also carves and draws animal transformation and life experiences into his works. He has sold many of his carvings and drawings to galleries throughout Canada and worldwide. He continues to work on his art in Pond Inlet and lives there with his family.

Arist’s Involvement with Traditional Inuit Cultre: Inuktitut Language; Hunting; Carving

Notes/Comments: Pursue your dreams. Create what you like to do best. Continue, don’t stop. Inuit stories are legend stories, our roots to our Inuit history and the animals and the people around us in the north.