Adrian Wall

Dwayne Simeon

Dwayne Simeon was born in 1960 in Campbell River, British Columbia. He is part Kwagiulth on his mother’s side and part Squamish on his father’s side. Dwayne’s interest in Northwest Coast art began at a young age. He was drawn to studying and carving in his tradition to rekindle his culture in his bloodline. He continues to study the traditional Kwakiutl styles and forms which is strongly reflected in his carving, yet maintains a style distinctly his own.

 Dwayne has apprenticed under such internationally known artists as Tony Hunt and John Livingstone. In 1981, he studied jewellery design at Vancouver Vocational Institute and in 1982 completed a one month jewellery making intensive course at the college. Dwayne also studied silk-screen production with Philip Oppenheimer at the Vancouver Indian Centre in 1981. From 1983 to 1986 he taught three wood carving and design courses in Vancouver.

 His works are found in numerous museums, galleries and private collections in Canada and the U.S. Commissions include totem poles for Bruce Howe, Canada Place, Vancouver, as well a totem pole project with B.C. Tourism currently on display in Chicago, Illinois. Dwayne has also been a guest lecturer at the Muhlenburg University in Pennsylvania, as well he performed a demonstration of his carving techniques at Expo ’86 for the Folk Life Programs.

 Dwayne was truly born an artist and has been designing, drawing and carving all his life. Best known as a carver of masks, he is also proficient in silver and gold jewellery making.

 Dwayne resides in Vancouver.