Brad Oukpak Carpenter
Artist Story
I grew up around art, and am a self-taught artist. I am from the remote arctic community of Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories. As a young boy, I sat and watched my father, Frank Carpenter, carve caribou antler, musk-ox horn and whale bone. It was with his help that I created my first carving; I was only 9 years old.
When I was 14, I stumbled upon an arts festival in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, which featured soapstone carvers. I would sit there for hours on end watching all the other artists create beautiful works of art. It was then that I truly fell in love with my medium of choice, soapstone.
I believe that every piece of artwork evokes emotion, whether it’s the artist’s or the person who connects with it. Every carving seems to take on a life of it’s own. I just hope that one day, when I’m gone, those who view my art will know that I left a part of my heart and soul in that piece of stone.
Brad is originally from the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour, NT. Brad has been carving since he was 9 years old and signs all his work with his Inuvialuktun name Oukpak. Inspired by his late father Frank Carpenter, Oukpak went on to first exhibit his art at the 1993 Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, NT. He has since won the Emerging Artist and the Artist Choice Award in separate years . It is everyday life that provides Oukpak with a wealth of ideas. Today Oukpak's art can be found in private collections around the world.
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