Blending Tradition with Innovation: Explore how 2021 First Nations Art Award recipient James Harry is reshaping the future of Indigenous design
James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry, a 2021 recipient of the BC Achievement First Nations Art Award, is redefining Indigenous design through a unique fusion of traditional Coast Salish teachings and contemporary artistic practices. Mentored by his father, renowned carver Xwalacktun, James grew up surrounded by cultural expression and purpose. His early carving work—such as the BC Aboriginal Sports Hall of Fame doors—led him to formal training at Emily Carr University, and eventually, to acclaimed public art pieces like From Sea to Sky, an aluminum totem that fuses ancestral iconography with cutting-edge materials.
James continues to push boundaries through collaborative work with his life partner, artist Lauren Brevner, under the name KWÍKWI. Their joint exhibit The Seventh and the striking mural Dreamweaver exemplify a shared commitment to storytelling, cultural reclamation, and solidarity. James’s artistic vision bridges the past and future—inviting audiences to reflect, honour, and engage with Indigenous ways of knowing in public spaces.