Nathan Wilson

Nathan was born in Prince Rupert BC on July 10, 1986 and is of both Haisla and British descent. He began carving in early 2009 with Kwakwaka’wakw artist Alfred Robertson and soon after learned to make bentwood boxes from Troy Bellerose. Nathan has also worked with Tsimshian artist Mike Epp and fellow Haisla artist John Wilson. He is the nephew of renowned Haisla jewellers Derek Wilson and Barry Wilson. Nathan wants to keep the artistic tradition continuing in his family and to someday teach the future generations. Currently enrolled at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, Nathan’s goal is to learn from the masters, attain a higher understanding of the artform and expand into creating more sculptural art works. After completing the program at Freda Diesing, Nathan would like to attend the jewellery course at the Native Education Centre in Vancouver, BC.

“Growing up, I was always curious about the masks and paintings in my grandmother’s house but I never knew the meaning as I was raised outside of the traditional knowledge. Now that I attend Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, that curiosity has grown into a passion, one I wish to keep for a life time. This form of art allows me to express what I think, how I feel and to learn about a culture whose very existence was defined by “Art.” To see the old pieces that have survived for hundreds of years, only drives me to attain the same knowledge the masters of the past once had.”

Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art