IQALUIT - World-renowned Cape Dorset print maker Kenojuak Ashevak attended her first solo exhibition in Nunavut earlier this month.

The Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum's retrospective of the 82-year-old artist's remarkable half-century of work, simply titled Kenojuak, is a retrospective of her innovative and ever-evolving designs.

Kenojuak Ashevak addressed Northern dignitaries and members of the public at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum during the launch of a 50-year retrospective of her work on June 20. Two-year-old Inez Inooya Canil crawled up on stage and helped Kenojuak make a point during her talk. The exhibit continues for the duration of the Alianait Arts Festival. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

"Kunojuak is the best-known Inuit artist alive," said museum curator Brian Lunger. "Her achievements are being recognized at home and that is really important."

Northern dignitaries, tourists and members of the public filled the gallery during the opening reception on June 20. The art is available for viewing for the remainder of the Alianait! Arts Festival.

The comprehensive exhibit features many of Kenojuak's most famous designs, such as Our Beautiful Land, a huge print with only three original copies in existence. Poster-sized reproductions decorate many government offices in the territory.

"It is one of her finest works, I think," Lunger said.

The show also displays Enchanted Owl, a 1960 print that achieved a record for the highest auction price of any Canadian print.

In 1970, Canada Post selected that work for its commemorative six-cent postage stamp to mark the Northwest Territories centennial.

The rare Enchanted Owl print on display at the museum this week is on loan from the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op. It is the first time the co-op has released it to any gallery.

In her address to the packed audience, Kenojuak described the iconic artwork as among her most difficult and time-consuming pieces. However, she said her latest work in the display, titled Tikiniq, or The Arrival, was her biggest challenge. She completed the epic six-panel work in 2007 in celebration of her 80th birthday.

Measuring 17-feet long, the experimental hand-coloured print fills one wall of the museum. It is attracting a lot of attention this week.

During her speech, which was translated and summarized for those in the audience who cannot understand Inuktitut by Louis Tapardjuk, Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Kenojuak contrasted the creative physical work of carvers, whose vision and unique artistic decisions unfold in front of them, with the intense intellectual concentration of the printmaker, who imagines form then tries to create it.

"It's all mental," she said of the print process.

Kenojuak said she was honoured by the show and was pleased to attend, adding that she never refuses an invitation to encourage the appreciation of Inuit art.

"It's not a big thing," she said. "It's something that I enjoy."

Kenojuak travels the world with her prints elevating the prominence of Inuit artistry and educating audiences about her home and her culture.

"She said it was very nice for her to be brought to Iqaluit," said her granddaughter, Susie Ashevak. "For her there were a lot of people, but not as many as down south and not as crazy as down south. She was happy to meet all the people. I had fun with my grandmother. It was a first time experience for me to be in a place like that. It was very exciting for me. I heard a lot of good things about her that I hear around town but really not from any other communities."

Premier Eva Aariak was among the people to extended words of praise for Kenojuak's ongoing legacy.

"She is a true champion of Inuit art," Aariak said, thanking Kenojuak for the dedication and creativity she has shared throughout her celebrated career.

The exhibit also celebrated the museum's fortieth anniversary. The venue has showcased the Cape Dorset print collection every year since its inception. The 2009 collection goes on exhibit in October. From Oct. 16 to Jan. 17, the new Cape Dorset prints will also be showcased at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa alongside the inaugural 1959 Cape Dorset print collection, the first catalogued prints to be made by Inuit artists. Those include Kenojuak's early print, Rabbit Eating Seaweed, which can be viewed at the museum this week.

Kenojuak is one of only two artists to be represented in the 1959 collection and in this year's collection. Kananginak Pootoogook is the other.

Christine Lalonde, associate curator of Indigenous Art for the National Gallery, said Kenojuak continues to demonstrate an exceptional spirit of experimentation.

"One thing I admire about Kenojuak is she has always remained true to her own interests in exploring design and form," Lalonde said.

"How remarkable it is to be in your 80s and still be among the most innovative artists working. Over the years she's really been able to hone in on her own idea of beauty. When an artist remains true to their own vision they get better and better. How could they not?"