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