#72 • 56" Kwakwaka'Wakw-Style Sun Mask - John Livingston

Part of June 2026 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $2,100.00

Status: Sold

Category: Art

A large Kwakwaka'wakw-style sun mask carved from red cedar and birch wood signed en verso by carver John Livingston (Canadian, 1951-2019) and dated 1981. This remarkable example of Pacific Northwest Coast Native-style craftsmanship is painted with a vibrant orange and red formline design and features seven long planks representing sun rays pierced with hollow ovoids emanating from a central face with a hooked beak-like nose. Livingston was taught by father and son carvers, Henry and Tony Hunt in the early 1970s and apprenticed with Calvin Hunt carving totem poles at Thunderbird Park. He was later adopted into the Kwakwaka'wakw by the prominent Hunt family in 2017. The piece measures approximately 61" x 9.5" x 56" tall. Provenance: Consigned directly by the Bruce Beasley Foundation, established by internationally acclaimed American sculptor Bruce Beasley (b. 1939), whose works are represented in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and numerous other institutions worldwide. The Foundation is dedicated to advancing the appreciation and study of sculpture and three-dimensional art. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of this lot will be donated to the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations Primary Care Centre, supporting healthcare and community wellness initiatives for Kwakwaka'wakw communities. Note Regarding Shipping Services: This item is exceptionally large and/or heavy, and may require custom boxing or crating depending on the intended destination and available carrier services. For more information prior to bidding, please email us at Shipping@AlaskaPremierAuctions.com or call/text us at 907.570.7050.