Jay Brabant

Cree Nation

Jay Brabant was born on January 5, 1970, in Victoria British Columbia. Although he is of Cree descent, he was brought up under the influence of the people of the Northwest Coast. His father, master carver Gene Brabant, taught him the exquisite designs of the coastal tribes.

At the age of twelve, Jay began carving under the tutelage of his father. Together they travelled across the United States and Canada, visiting museums and studying the old pieces. Jay derived inspiration from these ancient treasures, combining this knowledge with working skills learned from his father and the world-renowned Hunt family.

Jay continues to learn the art form, expanding his studies to the Bella Coola and Tlingit styles. Jay’s work is particularly clean in its execution and rates highly among his fellow carvers. Consequently, his work can be found in important private and corporate collections worldwide.