1080 Keewatin St,
Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6T7

2024-08-02 Colin Davis Steel Grease, and Gasoline

Angelique Merasty (1924 – 1996) (Cree)

Angelique Merasty: Bird and Snowflake

JAN 10 >> MAR 16, 2025

40 years ago, Angelique Merasty was the last known person alive who practiced the art of birch bark biting. Today, she remains widely respected for her work, and her bitings have inspired a new generations of artists. The gallery has a significant collection of her bitings, and we toured regionally in a custom wood frame back in 80s (outdated and clunky today!). This contemporary presentation reimagines the works in our collection, and celebrates the legacy of the artist, and resurgence of birch bark biting in contemporary art.

Image: Angelique Merasty, Flower Motif, circa 1982, birch bark, detail. Purchased with assistance of the Lake Superior IODE and private donor, 1983

Artist Bio

Angelique Merasty was born in 1924 in Beaver Lake, Manitoba, and was a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. She learned the traditional art form of birch bark biting from her mother, Susan Ballantyne, and developed her own style and patterns inspired by flowers, animals, and insects. While birch bark biting began as pastime, she her exceptional work became sought after by museums and collections. As she gained more experience, she could visualize the entire picture she wanted to create before beginning and would pause only after completing the entire design. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has a significant collection of Merasty’s work and presented her first solo exhibition in 1983 entitled Wigwas: Bark Biting by Angelique Merasty, including an educational display across the region. Her work can be seen at the Museum of Man and Nature in Winnipeg and is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.