Now in his seventh decade as an artist, Gigaemi Kukwits (Frank Baker) has built a distinctive body of work that brings together his Capilano, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Tlingit heritage with a lifelong commitment to artistic exploration. After travelling throughout Europe in 1966, studying the collections of major museums including the Tate, the Louvre, and the Rijksmuseum while supporting himself through the sale of his artwork, he attended the Vancouver School of Art. Recognizing the importance of learning from within his own culture, he returned home to apprentice with Indigenous artists, establishing a foundation that has continued to shape his practice. Later travels through Morocco, Thailand, Indonesia, Arizona, and beyond further expanded his artistic vocabulary and deepened his spirit of experimentation.
Working primarily in painting, Gigaemi creates works that move fluidly between narrative, symbolism, and abstraction. His paintings reinterpret Northwest Coast design traditions through sweeping brushwork, vibrant colour, and expressive movement, transforming familiar formline elements into dynamic painterly compositions. Balancing Indigenous visual language with contemporary artistic influences, his work is distinguished by its originality, innovation, and emotional resonance.
Throughout his career, Gigaemi has remained deeply interested in visual language and the ways gesture, pattern, and form communicate meaning beyond words. His paintings reflect a sustained exploration of identity, culture, and creative possibility while expanding the boundaries of contemporary Indigenous art in British Columbia.
