About Me

As far back as I can remember, art has been a part of my life, with much of my inspiration coming from Inuit culture, storytelling, legends, and the people around me.

I’m Saelym DeGrandpre, an urban Inuk artist, graphic designer, and mother based in Ottawa, with my family from Baker Lake, Nunavut. My practice has grown across many different mediums, including digital illustration, graphic design, printmaking, carving, jewelry, and public art, allowing me to move between traditional materials, contemporary techniques, and visual storytelling.

Much of my personal artwork explores Inuit identity, womanhood, femininity, body positivity, shamanism, and the connections between generations. Inuit myths and legends, oral storytelling, Tunniit, clothing, land, and cultural teachings are recurring influences throughout my work. Women are especially prominent in my artwork, often depicted with traditional tattoos and a mix of traditional and contemporary clothing as I explore identity, strength, and womanhood through my own perspective.

Working with my family has also introduced caribou antler carving as an important part of my practice. I combine antler and other natural materials with contemporary elements such as pearls, metalwork, fur, and sealskin to create jewelry, accessories, artwork, and functional pieces. I love allowing the natural qualities of these materials to remain visible while finding new ways to work with them through contemporary design.

Alongside my personal art practice, graphic design and illustration have become a major part of my work through Taqqiq. I create illustrations, visual identities, publications, educational resources, infographics, murals, public artwork, and large-scale visual projects for Indigenous communities, organizations, businesses, and institutions across Canada. These collaborations let me bring my design background together with the storytelling and artistic approach that runs through the rest of my practice.

Sharing knowledge and building connections through art is at the heart of what I do. I lead workshops and educational programs in printmaking, digital illustration, carving, jewelry-making, storytelling, and more. I have worked with students and communities across Canada, both online and in person, and have helped create educational resources that bring Inuit art and perspectives into classrooms.

I’m a graduate of Toronto Film School’s Graphic Design & Interactive Media program and Algonquin College, where I studied Indigenous Studies. As I continue my studies at Yorkville U, learning has always been central to my creative practice, and my education in both design and Indigenous studies continues to shape how I approach my work.

Since beginning to share my artwork publicly in 2019, my practice has grown from sharing my own creations into a multidisciplinary career spanning art, design, illustration, public art, education, community collaboration, and handmade work. Through Taqqiq, I continue to explore new materials and ways of creating while staying connected to the stories, culture, and experiences that have shaped me as an artist.