1 13

SKU: 240419-18

Raven Cresting the Moon, Kwagulth, George Hunt / Tony Hunt Jr.

 ca 1990

26"

Biographies

Tony Hunt Jr. (December 4, 1961 – October 12, 2017) was a talented Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwagiulth/Kwakiutl) First Nations woodcarver, mask maker, and dancer from British Columbia, Canada. He belonged to one of the most prominent artistic families in Northwest Coast Indigenous art.

mymondotrading.com
Background and Family
  • Born in Victoria, British Columbia.
  • Son of renowned master carver and hereditary chief Tony Hunt Sr.
  • Grandson of Henry Hunt.
  • Great-grandson of Mungo Martin, a key figure in the revitalization of Kwakwaka'wakw culture.
  • Part of the extended Hunt family lineage, which includes other accomplished carvers such as uncles Richard Hunt and Stanley Hunt.

    timescolonist.com
Artistic Training and CareerTony Hunt Jr. began carving as a child around age 13 and received traditional apprenticeship training from his father (Tony Hunt Sr.) and other family members, including Henry Hunt, Richard Hunt, Calvin Hunt, John Livingston, and Gene Brabant. His preferred medium was wood, and he excelled in creating masks, totem poles, bowls, and other ceremonial objects in the classic Kwakwaka'wakw style.

mymondotrading.com
He was known for his accomplished technique and “unique revisioning” of traditional forms — building on ancestral knowledge while developing a distinctive personal style. His work gained international recognition and is held in major museums, corporate collections, and private collections worldwide.

timescolonist.com
Notable Contributions and Recognition
  • Featured in the major exhibition Chiefly Feasts (opened at the American Museum of Natural History in New York in 1991–1992, later traveling to other venues including the Royal BC Museum).
  • Carved a totem pole in 2015 at Quadra Elementary School in Victoria to mark its 100th anniversary.
  • Assisted family members in cultural projects, including helping build the first big house in Fort Rupert in 70 years.
  • Participated in solo and group exhibitions; one notable sold-out solo show at Alcheringa Gallery in Victoria during the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

    timescolonist.com
Cultural RoleBeyond carving, Tony Hunt Jr. was a culturally active member of his community. He was an initiated Hamatsa dancer, inherited rights to many high-ranking family dances, and performed regularly with the Kwa Gulth Dance Group. His family crests included Raven and Sisiutl.

mymondotrading.com
He passed away in 2017 at age 55. He is remembered as a humble, brilliant, and dedicated artist who made significant contributions to Kwakwaka'wakw art and culture while being a devoted father.

timescolonist.com
His legacy continues through his sons and the ongoing work of the broader Hunt family of carvers.
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George Hunt Jr. (born April 30, 1958) is a contemporary Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwagiulth/Kwakiutl) First Nations artist and woodcarver from British Columbia, Canada. He belongs to the renowned Hunt family of Northwest Coast Indigenous artists.

nativecanadianarts.com
Background and Family
  • Born in Campbell River, British Columbia.
  • Native name: Nas-u-niz (“Light Beyond the World”).
  • Son of hereditary chief George Hunt Sr. (also a carver).
  • Part of the extended Hunt artistic dynasty.
  • Step-great-grandson of master carver Mungo Martin.
  • Related to other prominent family carvers including Tony Hunt Sr., Henry Hunt, Richard Hunt, Stanley Hunt, Calvin Hunt, and others.

    nativecanadianarts.com
Artistic Training and CareerGeorge Hunt Jr. began carving at age 14 under the guidance of his father, George Hunt Sr. He later apprenticed with several leading Kwakwaka'wakw artists, including Tony Hunt, John Livingston, Calvin Hunt, and Sam Henderson. He has been actively carving since 1972.

katilvik.com
He works in traditional Kwakwaka'wakw style across multiple media:
  • Wood carvings (masks, totem poles, rattles, bowls, and ceremonial objects).
  • Acrylic paintings on paper and canvas.
  • Limited-edition serigraph prints.
  • Designs for traditional dance costumes and drums.
  • Precious metals work.

    nativecanadianarts.com
Cultural ContributionsBeyond visual art, George Hunt Jr. is a respected traditional dancer. He was initiated into the Hamatsa Society and learned inherited dances from his grandfather, Chief Thomas Hunt. He is active in cultural practices among Tlingit, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Mowachaht/Muchalaht communities.

lattimergallery.com
His work preserves and revitalizes Kwakwaka'wakw stories, crests, and ceremonial traditions while reaching international audiences through galleries, exhibitions, and private collections.Note on George Hunt Sr.: The historical George Hunt (1854–1933) was primarily a Tlingit-Kwakwaka'wakw ethnologist and collaborator with Franz Boas. He did some carving (e.g., a house frontal totem pole for Edward Curtis’s 1914 film), but he is far better known for his linguistic and ethnographic work than as a professional carver. T

Condition: Excellent

Tribe: Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw)

Year Range: 1975 - 2000

Region: Pacific Northwest - and Alaska

Dimensions: 26 in

Category: Masks and Headdresses

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