David Neel
Kwakwaka’wakw Nation
David Neel has been creating art in the Kwakwaka’wakw style for over thirty years. His paintings, printmaking, carvings, and jewelry are all informed by his heritage, which includes several successful artists: Dave Neel Sr., his father; Ellen Neel, his grandmother; Mungo Martin, his great-great uncle; and Charlie James, his great-great-great grandfather. While many of his pieces are more contemporary in their material and design, Neel learned carving in the traditional style by his family and peers in his father’s village.
While Neel portrays meaningful stories and traditional values in all of his pieces, he says he finds jewelry the most impactful art form. He appreciates the fact that clients attach their own meaning to his jewelry and that it is used to mark important, personal events in people’s lives.
Neel has exhibited his work in many public institutions, including solo exhibitions at: the National Portrait Gallery of Canada; The Smithsonian Institution – NMAI; the Venice Biennale, and his work is represented in numerous public collections. His children are following in family legacy; studying art at the Emily Carr University and working with their father.
Works by this Artist (Present + Past + Public)
Present Works
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Thunderbird, Bear, Human, & Frog Pendant
David Neel
CA$2,700.00Sterling silver, 14K Yellow Gold, Abalone shell, Oxidized, Engraved
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Supernatural Loon Bracelet
David Neel
Price upon request14K Yellow Gold, Engraved
In ancient Kwakwaka’wakw stories, the Loon aids the protagonist, taking him on its back and transporting him to the undersea realm, where animals live much like humans. It represents a helper spirit that is the portal or doorway to a supernatural world.
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Hummingbird & Bear Box (AP)
David Neel
CA$390.00Serigraph, Artist Proof, Edition of 7
Unframed
(For inquiries on custom framing, please contact the gallery)
Why an Artist Proof?
The artist proof is often the first proof or set of proofs that the artist “pulls” to ensure that the image is printing to the desired effect. The Artist Proof holds a higher value than a regular edition piece due to its rarity as well as the possibility that they can contain the visual evidence of the artist’s progress. Artist Proofs are typically owned and kept by the artist so they are rarely released.
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The Way Home: David Neel
David Neel
CA$32.95David Neel was an infant when his father, a traditional Kwakiutl artist, returned to the ancestors, triggering a series of events that would separate David from his homeland and its rich cultural traditions for twenty-five years. When he saw a potlatch mask carved by his great-great-grandfather in a museum in Fort Worth, Texas, the encounter inspired the young photographer to rekindle a childhood dream to follow in the footsteps of his father.
Drawing on memories, legends, and his own art and portrait photography, David Neel recounts his struggle to reconnect with his culture after decades of separation and a childhood marred by trauma and abuse. He returned to the Pacific Coast in 1987, where he apprenticed with master carvers from his father’s village. The art of his ancestors and the teaching of the people he met helped to make up for the last years and fueled his creativity. His career as a multi-media artist also gave him the opportunity to meet and photograph leading artists, knowledgeable elders, and prominent people from around the world. In time he was a recognized artists, with his artwork presented in more than forty solo and sixty group exhibitions.
The Way Home is an uplifting tale that affirms the healing power of returning home. It is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit to overcome great obstacles, and to the power and endurance of Indigenous culture and art.
Softcover
Please note: When purchasing a book online, please consider the cost of shipping to certain destinations as it may be higher than anticipated. Please contact us for a shipping quote prior to placing your online order.
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Wolf Ring
David Neel
CA$1,560.0014K White Gold,14K Yellow Gold Rails, Engraved, Oxidized
Tapered
Width: 7/16″
Size: 7
Past Works
The artist’s Past Works at our Gallery have now sold; however, a custom order may be possible if the artist is available and accepting commissions.