The Spirit Wrestler Gallery is an international leader in cross-cultural
art exhibitions. Featuring museum-quality artwork from three cultures:
the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest Coast, the Inuit of the Canadian
Arctic and the Māori of Aotearoa (New Zealand). The conversations
between these works from three corners of the world tell stories that
offer both comparison and contrast making the gallery a truly unique
place to visit.
We sincerely believe in the cross-cultural connection between aboriginal
artists and have built our reputation on this
philosophy. The world is becoming increasingly smaller as artists fly
in to attend overseas conferences, cultural gatherings, and artist workshops.
Many of these artists are participating in art collaborations or securing
international commissions. Artists communicate through their art — bridging
frontiers, languages and cultural boundaries. These lines are now becoming
blurred as cultures also often share similar techniques, subject matter
and designs.
The name of the gallery comes from the book by James Houston of the
same name, which tells the story of a young shaman being trained to realize
his power in the Canadian Arctic. The name reflects the art of both Inuit
and Northwest Coast cultures, which share the animist perspectives of
transformation and regeneration inherent in their belief.