Bill Reid
Bill Reid | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Ronald Reid Jr. 12 January 1920 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 13 March 1998 (aged 78) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | sculptor, activist, environmentalist |
| Works | The Spirit of Haida Gwaii Chief of the Undersea World The Raven and the First Men |
| Awards | Order of British Columbia |
William Ronald Reid Jr. OBC RCA (12 January 1920 – 13 March 1998) also known as Iljuwas, was a Haida artist whose works include jewelry, sculpture, screen-printing, and paintings. Producing over one thousand original works during his fifty-year career, Reid is regarded as one of the most significant Northwest Coast artists of the late twentieth century. The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art celebrates his legacy through the curation of contemporary Indigenous art.
Reid was a matrilineal descendant of K'aadaas Gaa K'iigawaay, who belong to Ḵayx̱al, the Raven matrilineages of the Haida Nation. This matrilineage traces its origins to T'aanuu Llnagaay. His names are Iljuuwas (Princely One), Kihlguulins (One Who Speaks Well), and Yaahl SG̱waansing (Solitary Raven).
Some of his major works were featured on the Canadian $20 banknote of the Canadian Journey series (2004–2012).