Stephen Bruce

Country/Region: Northwest Coast (view other artists)

Tribe: Namgis

Stephen Bruce was born in 1968 in Alert Bay, BC and is of the Namgis First Nation. He began carving at the age of 18. He learned to carve by observing the prominent artists in his community such as, Wayne Alfred, Ned Matilpi, and Beau Dick. He is now considered one of the Northwest Coast's most talented and versatile carvers, creating everything from rattles to thirty-foot totem poles. He has been commissioned to create many monumental permanent exhibits, such as an eighteen-foot totem pole for the Mitsui Corporation in Tokyo. He was the head carver for the creation of several totem poles and three house fronts, commissioned by the Dolfinarium Theme Park in Harderwijk, Holland. They now stand within a recreation of a Kwakwaka'wakw village. He carved a ten-foot totem pole for the Nagmis First Nation, now standing in the Alert Bay Cemetery beside many other totem poles, produced by other highly prominent carvers. He was one of eight carvers selected to create the new ceremonial big house in Alert Bay. He is currently working on a new permanent exhibit for the international wing of the Vancouver Airport. Stephen's pieces are sought-after by many international collectors of Northwest Coast Native artwork.

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