Gene Brabant

Country/Region: Northwest Coast (view other artists)

Tribe: Cree

As a young boy growing up in Victoria, Gene Brabant (b.1946) was very much involved with the Hunt family. He spent much of his time observing Mungo Martin when he was working on the Thunderbird Park project in Victoria and in his early twenties learned some carving skills alongside Tony Hunt. However, it was not until later that Gene began to take his artwork more seriously and at that time, began to carve and paint.

In 1971, Gene began to work with Tony and John Hunt and his skills have developed since that time.

Gene Brabant acknowledges that a major influence in terms of artistic inspiration and insight into the Northwest Coast art came from Westcoast artist and carver, Joe David. He was also given encouragement in his work by Eugene Arima, a Japanese anthropologist with a strong interest in the art of the Northwest Coast.

Gene Brabant now lives in Vancouver, where he continues to produce finely crafted works.

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