| At first, all Inuit soapstone sculptures from | | | | |
| the Arctic may look alike. However, there | | | | One thing that all Inuit sculptures have in |
| are variances in artistic styles among the | | | | common is that they show the fact that Inuit |
| different Inuit art producing communities. | | | | people have deep connections with their |
| Although all communities produce Inuit | | | | family life, their natural surroundings and |
| sculptures featuring both animal and human | | | | spiritual beliefs. It is interesting to |
| subjects, some seem to do more animals while | | | | observe that even if some Inuit artists have |
| others do more people figures. Some | | | | converted to Christianity as their religion, |
| communities make their subjects appear quite | | | | they may still include Inuit spirituality and |
| realistic with lots of high detail while in | | | | legends as a big part of their lives. This |
| others, a more crude and primitive look is | | | | is portrayed in some of their Inuit sculpture |
| preferred. There are Inuit sculptures that | | | | and other artwork. |
| have a highly polished finishes and some that | | | | |
| are the complete opposite where they are left | | | | The differences in artistic style are partly |
| dull and unpolished. | | | | due to the different types of stone and other |
| | | | materials available in each community as well |
| Some areas specialize in producing small | | | | as regional preferences. Of course there can |
| scale miniatures much like the artwork by | | | | be outside influences when Inuit artists |
| their ancestors who first came into contact | | | | travel from community to community. This is |
| with white men. Inuit sculpture can range | | | | particularly the case with larger growing |
| from quite conservative to bold or even | | | | communities like Iqaluit which has seen an |
| wildly outrageous. Scenes can be playful | | | | influx of Inuit from other parts of Nunavut |
| like a piece depicting two Inuit children | | | | ever since becoming its capital. One can |
| playing or with a sense of humor like a | | | | find a variety and blending of Inuit art |
| walrus waving. On the other end, | | | | styles here. A longer version of this |
| transformation and shamanic pieces can look | | | | article which describes the different styles |
| disturbing or even frightening to some. | | | | of Inuit sculptures from different Canadian |
| Hunting scenes can portray the gory realities | | | | Arctic regions can be found at the Free |
| of life and death in nature. | | | | Spirit Gallery website. |