Lionel Samuels

Haida Nation

1963-2022

Lionel Samuels was born in 1963 in Masset on Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Canada. He was a member of the Haida Nation and he took the Raven, revered as the hero, creator, trickster, and transformer, as his family crest symbol.

Lionel claimed that it was only natural that he began making Northwest Coast Native art, as it was an integral part of his family heritage. He began carving argillite at the age of twenty and continued carving until the end of his life. He was the grandson of a famous argillite carver, Captain Andrew Brown.

Lionel carved artworks in a variety of mediums, including argillite, cedar wood, silver, and gold. He also created original paintings. His workmanship revealed a great deal of intricacy, balance and depth. His argillite pieces were commonly carved on both sides when in pendant form, and his sculptures, whether miniature or large, had a four-dimensional quality that was distinctive and sought-after by many collectors.