Artist: Valerie Malesku

Valerie Malesku is a multi-talented artist of Cree and Romanian ancestry, who was born in 1953, raised in B.C. and settled on the Haida Gwaii Islands in the early 1970's.

In Haida Gwaii she discovered her talent for pencil sketching and silver carving. She began working with silver and gold in 1981 and has perfected her skills, learning side-by-side with some of the finest contemporary artists, including Bill Reid who became her Mentor. Val excels at bringing life to classical and contemporary Cree and West Coast designs.

Her work includes pencil drawings of Haida totem poles (which have won four art awards), paintings and carvings in gold, silver and wood.

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