Maureen Gruben

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Maureen Gruben (b. 1963, Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada) is an Inuvialuk artist working in multiple media. Gruben employs an intimate materiality as she disassembles and re-combines disparate organic and industrial elements. Polar bear fur, beluga intestines, and seal skins encounter resins, metallic tape, and bubble wrap, forging critical links between life in the Western Arctic and global environmental and cultural concerns. Gruben was born and raised in Tuktoyaktuk where her parents were traditional knowledge keepers and founders of E. Gruben’s Transport. She holds a BFA from the University of Victoria and has exhibited regularly across Canada and internationally. She was longlisted for the 2019 Aesthetica Art Prize and the 2021 Sobey Art Prize, and her work is held in national and private collections. Gruben lives and works in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Maureen Gruben

The Women’s Darkroom

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Nakataq (A marker to help in finding something again), 2022

Solo show at The Women’s Darkroom, Brooklyn, USA

Maureen Gruben

We all have to go someday. Do the best you can. Love one another.

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We all have to go someday. Do the best you can. Love one another, 2019

Deerhide, embroidery thread, metallic thread, steel grommets and rivets, aluminum frame

60" X 50" X 1"
152.4cm X 127cm X 2.54cm

Maureen Gruben

Waiting For The Shaman

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Waiting For The Shaman, 2017

Bones from polar bear paws, resin

22" X 22" X 1"
55.88cm X 55.88cm X 2.54cm

Maureen Gruben

This Is Not A Hudson’s Bay Blanket

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This Is Not A Hudson's Bay Blanket, 2015

Moosehide blanket on aluminum plinth

14" X 14" X 7"
35.56cm X 35.56cm X 17.78cm

Maureen Gruben

Survival

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Survival, 2018

Sealskin, beads, deer hide, ribbon, and metal clasps on canvas

48" X 60"
121.92cm X 152.4cm

Maureen Gruben

Superseded

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Superseded, 2020

Tin claim plates, soldering wire, copper and steel nails, plywood

16" X 24"
40.64cm X 60.96cm

Maureen Gruben

Stitching My Landscape

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Stitching My Landscape, 2017

Archival inkjet print on Epson Hot Press Bright

Edition of 3

96" X 39.25"
243.84cm X 99.69cm

Maureen Gruben

Message

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Message, 2015

Polar bear guard hairs, cotton thread, black interface

180" X 24"
457.2cm X 60.96cm

Maureen Gruben

Guardian

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Guardian, 2017

Polar bear guard hairs, clear vinyl, ricrac, bias tape

39" X 40"
99.06cm X 101.6cm

Maureen Gruben

Gestation

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Gestation, 2016

Polar bear guard hair, silicone wrap, polar bear underfur, white glue, thread

53 in. diameter

Maureen Gruben

Seal In Our Blood

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Seal In Our Blood, 2018

Harp Seal Skin, red velvet, thread

" X 384" X 1"
0cm X 975.36cm X 2.54cm

Maureen Gruben

Moving with Joy, The Bentway Skate Trail

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Moving with Joy, 2021-2022

The Bentway Skate Trail, Toronto, Canada

Maureen Gruben

Delta Trim

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Delta Trim, 2018

Bubble wrap, reflective tape, Velcro, zip ties, moosehide

19" X 21.75"
48.26cm X 55.24cm

Maureen Gruben

Breathing Hole

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Breathing Hole, 2019

Dricore insulation board, stainless steel pins, and sealskin

48" X 30"
121.92cm X 76.2cm

Maureen Gruben

Breath

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Breath, 2016

Moosehide on canvas

48" X 60"
121.92cm X 152.4cm

Maureen Gruben

Aidainnaqduanni, Aurora

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Aidainnaqduanni, Aurora, 2020

Archival inkjet on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta

32" X 48"
81.28cm X 121.92cm

Maureen Gruben

Aidainnaqduanni, Morning

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Aidainnaqduanni, Morning, 2020

Archival inkjet on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta

32" X 48"
81.28cm X 121.92cm

Maureen Gruben

Big Hello

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Big Hello, 2021

Beaded uppers, cell phone cases

Dimensions variable, 112 pieces

Maureen Gruben

69 25 43.0 N 132 15 49.4 W

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69 25 43.0 N 132 15 49.4 W, 2017

White rabbit, blue fox, polar bear fur, birchwood, copper

48" X 21" X 19"
121.92cm X 53.34cm X 48.26cm

Maureen Gruben

Moving with joy across the ice while my face turns brown from the sun

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Moving with joy across the ice while my face turns brown from the sun, 2019

Archival inkjet on Epson Hot Press Bright

Edition of 3

120" X 42.5"
304.8cm X 107.95cm

Maureen Gruben

Stitching My Landscape

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Stitching My Landscape, 2017

Video

Edition of 3 + 2AP

Commissioned by Partners In Art for LandMarks2017/Repères2017. Curated by Tania Willard.

M.Gruben0003

Maureen Gruben

Fresh Artifacts

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Fresh Artifacts, 2017

Cast resin, steel, copper nails, reflective tape, wax

M.Gruben0002

52" X 12"
132.08cm X 30.48cm

Maureen Gruben

Consumed

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Consumed, 2017

Beluga intestine, thread, found objects

Dimensions variable

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