The Artists Of Salish Weave
The Coast Salish artists whose work we collect define and embrace the practice of Coast Salish art. Each artist draws upon traditions and stories of his or her culture, yet challenges the boundaries of Salish art through the exploration of modern media and techniques. Be they world-renowned, well established or emergent artists, their style is unmistakably their own. They all live and work in traditional Coast Salish territories, on the Pacific southwest coast of British Columbia and the northwest coast of the United States.
At the end of each artist’s biography, you can view the artist’s work in the Salish Weave Collection.
Where available, we also provide a link to the artist’s website or Facebook page.
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Luke Marston
Luke Marston (Ts’uts’umutl) is a member of the Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation. He was born in 1976 to carvers Jane and David Marston who introduced him to carving. He learned Salish history and traditional stories from the late Coast Salish artist Simon Charlie, and honed his talents in form, design and carving detailed finishing from …
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John Marston
Coast Salish carver John Marston (Qap’u’luq) was born in 1978 in Ladysmith, British Columbia. His parents David and Jane Marston, both carvers, were his first teachers and John picked up a carving knife at the age of eight. John was mentored by the late Coast Salish carver Simon Charlie who taught him the legends of the …
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Stan Greene
Stan Greene was born in Mission, British Columbia in 1953. He is from Sto:lo (Fraser Valley), Semiahmoo (White Rock) and Niimíipu (Nez Perce from the Columbia River Plateau). Sto:lo means People of the River in the Halkomelem language. At the age of 13, inspired by his grandfather’s collection of carvings, Stan began carving. In 1976-77, …
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Charles Elliott
Charles (Temosen) Elliott was a member of the T’sartlip First Nation. He lived and worked in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. As a young artist, Charles carved designs on the bark of the cottonwood trees and styled his own small poles and model canoes with coaching from his father, mother and uncles. Like …
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Margaret August
Margaret August is a Two-Spirited, Coast Salish artist from the Shíshálh Nation. Margaret was born in 1983 in the traditional unceded Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories, now known as Victoria, British Columbia. Margaret’s work is inspired by their traditional teachings and encounters with nature. Margaret began developing their artistic talents at an early age and carried …
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Chris Paul
Born near Victoria, British Columbia in 1969, Chris is as a member of the T’sartlip nation. He was immersed in Coast Salish art as a child, and was mentored by his uncle, Salish artist Charles Elliott. He also completed one year of training at the Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art in ‘Ksan, and a …
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Sage Paul
Born in 1995 on Vancouver Island, Sage is from the T’sartlip Nation. Under the tutelage of her father, Coast Salish artist Chris Paul, she has learned Salish design elements, explored design techniques, and produced art prints since 2008. Sage studied cosmetology and hairdressing, and her creativity also comes to life when she works with individuals, …
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Liam Paul
Born in 1999, Liam is the second child, and only son, of Coast Salish artist Chris Paul. The Paul family is from the T’sartlip Nation and lives in Brentwood Bay, on the Saanich peninsula of Vancouver Island. Under the tutelage of his father, Liam started carving at seven years old. Later, he attended Carve Night, …
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Cosiniye Paul
Cosiniye (pronounced Kwa-sea-knee-ah) was born in the hot summer of 2000 in on Vancouver Island. She is from the T’sarlip Nation, and the youngest daughter and third child of Coast Salish artist Chris Paul. Cosiniye has been drawing, sketching, and painting since she was old enough to hold a pencil and a paintbrush. She enjoys …
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Debra Sparrow
Debra Sparrow was born and raised on the Musqueam Indian Reserve and is self-taught in Salish design and jewellery-making. Her work can be seen in various museums and institutions. Debra designed the logo for the Canadian Men’s Hockey Team for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. She also continues to work …
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Thomas A. Cannell
Thomas was born on Musqueam traditional territory in 1980. Living on the Musqueam Reserve in Vancouver, BC since birth, Thomas immersed himself in the long-established cultural and art traditions of his Musqueam ancestors. Thomas attended the Langara College and Capilano University of Vancouver where he studied art history, photography, and graphic design, as well as …
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Angela Marston
Angela Marston (Statu Stsuhwum) was born in Ladysmith, British Columbia in November 1975 to Jane and David Marston, both talented carvers. They taught Angela traditional Coast Salish designs and carving skills from an early age. At fourteen-years old, Angela studied with weavers Kathy Edgar and Minney Peters and began weaving cedar bark. She learned the processes …
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Susan A. Point
Born in 1952, Susan Point is a Coast Salish artist from the Musqueam First Nation in Vancouver, B.C. Susan learned the traditional values of her culture and the legends of her people from her late mother, Edna Grant-Point and her late uncle, Dominic Point. Susan began her artistic career in January 1981 designing and creating …
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Andy Wilbur-Peterson
Andy was born in 1955 in Shelton, WA, a member of the Skokomish Nation. After being inspired by Northwest Coast art exhibited in a museum, Andy began carving and exploring different art forms, and by the age of 18 was a self-taught carver and painter. At first, he predominantly designed works in the form-line style …
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Jane Marston
Jane (Kwatleematt) is a Coast Salish artist from the Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation. She started carving in 1984 under the mentorship of Simon Charlie and worked on art projects with him until his passing in 2005. Jane is of the generation of artists like Charles Elliott and Stan Greene who revived the traditional Salish art …
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Andy Everson
Andy (Nadgedzi) Everson, born in Comox, British Columbia in 1972, was named by his grandfather, the late Chief Andy Frank of the K’ómoks First Nation. His grandmother greatly influenced Andy who has always upheld the traditions of both the K’ómoks and Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw First Nations. Andy holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology. Since the land of …
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lessLIE
Born Leslie Sam Robert in 1973, in Duncan, British Columbia, lessLIE is Coast Salish of Cowichan, Penelakut and Esquimalt Nations, and of Irish, Italian, and French heritage. lessLIE has a BA in First Nations Studies from Malaspina College, now the Vancouver Island University. While working on this undergraduate degree, lessLIE began to study Coast Salish …
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Dylan Thomas
Dylan (Qwul’thilum) Thomas was born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1986. He is a member of the Lyackson First Nation, whose traditional territory is Valdes Island, one of the Gulf Islands of the Salish Sea. Dylan’s family upheld the Coast Salish culture and traditions and immersed him into the art of his ancestors at a …
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Kelly Cannell
Kelly Cannell is emerging as a prominent Coast Salish artist from the Musqueam Nation in Vancouver, BC. Since birth, Kelly has been exposed to Coast Salish art and culture. At the age of 12, Kelly began her art career by creating her first collaborative silkscreen print with her mother Susan Point. Kelly’s travels throughout the …
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Maynard Johnny Jr.
Maynard Johnny Jr. was born in 1973 in Campbell River, British Columbia to a father of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation and a mother of Coast Salish heritage. He has inherited a blend of cultures, traditions and art styles. A self-taught artist, Maynard has been honing his skills since his teens. He draws inspiration from many Northwest …
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