Patrick Amos
May 21st, 1957 Patrick Amos was born in Yuquot or Friendly Cove, British Columbia, Canada. Yuquot is a small village located on Nootka Island situated along the west coast of Vancouver Island and is extremely important to the Mowachaht and Muchalaht peoples. Amos is a member of the Mowachaht First Nation and is very active within his community.
In 1976 Patrick began working for the Provincial Museum in Victoria in the linguistics department where he began illustrating. His illustrations were so well received by the Museum that he collaborated with the Museum to produce limited edition prints. This developed a strong interest to pursue other media such as wood. In 1979 he apprenticed under Tony Hunt Sr., an established and highly respected Northwest Coast Kwakwaka’wakw artist, and was taught the basic techniques of carving. A few years later, he was hired by the Royal BC Museum in Victoria to assist in carving a totem pole with Tim Paul, his stepfather and mentor.
Patrick is a versatile and experienced artist whose contemporary pieces carry the traditional Nuu-chah-nulth distinction while maintaining simplicity. He illustrates limited edition prints, carves masks, rattles, bowls and totem poles and thus he is highly respected and sought after artist.