Wilfred Sampson
Wilfred Sampson was born in Hazelton in 1957 and is part of the Gitsxan community. He has been designing, painting and carving Northwest Coast Art since 1981. Inspired by the beauty of the world and wanting to refine his talent, Wilfred attended Gitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art and Design in Hazelton, BC for advanced studies in carving in 1984, studying under master carvers: Chief Walter Harris, Earl Muldon, Ken Mowatt and Vern Stephens.
He specializes in carved and painted masks, but also produces exquisitely carved boxes and other fine pieces. An eight-foot Totem Pole was commissioned by the Houston Museum in Houston, BC.
For the Calgary Olympic Exhibition in 1988, he carved a wolf mask which now sits in the Glenbow Museum. He also designed the logo for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s 1990 National Conference. This design was later produced in a 250-piece limited edition print and was reproduced on clothing that still generates revenue for the C.M.H.A.
All of Sampson’s pieces are original designs, combining traditional Northwest Coast imagery with contemporary motifs. Sampson’s work is included in international corporate and private collections alike.