#49 • James Kivetoruk Moses Shamanic Ritual Scene

Part of June 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $11,500.00

Status: Sold

Category: Art

An original ink-on-paper drawing by James Kivetoruk Moses (Inupiaq, 1903-1982), brother-in-law to the equally important indigenous artist, George Ahgupuk (Inupiaq, 1911-2001). With visual narratives of fantasy and/or Native visions, his work is storytelling at its best -- tales of Indigenous ways of life, a foreshadowing of the lasting effects of Western contact. In this piece, the artist brings a hunter-naturalist's eye for detail to this eerie conjuring scene of a devil-like spirit summoned by a Shaman's drumming for a chilling consultation, a subject matter rarely seen by the artist and with no known examples showing this devil creature. Signed by the artist, lower left. Unframed measuring approximately 10" x 14"; shrink-wrapped on board measuring 11.75" x 16".