Terry Starr
Tsimshian Nation
Terry Starr is a Tsimshian artist, born March 2nd, 1951 in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. He grew up in a village, Port Simpson, 20 miles north of Prince Rupert. His predominant family crest is the Eagle on his mother’s side, while his sub crest is the Killerwhale on his father’s.
Subsequent to completing a college business course, Terry began carving in his late twenties. His specialty is carving wood, Alder being the preference; he also paints and has produced many traditional prints based on Tsimshian imagery.
Tim Paul RCA of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nation and Richard Hunt RCA of the Kwakwaka’wakw people were among the first to educate Terry on the basic techniques of carving wood. Their ancestral styles greatly influence the artwork that he creates today.
Terry is best known for his superbly refined masks reflecting the traditional pigments and form lines of his ancestry. He usually paints only a portion of his masks to deliberately reveal the fluid grain of the wood. As Terry’s career spans over twenty years, his expertise in achieving detail and his commitment to maintaining the traditional Tsimshian style is prevalent in his artwork. His pieces can be found in many local and international collections.