Pat McGuire

Pat McGuire was born in 1943 in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, and was a member of the Staastas Eagle Clan. His father, Sam McGuire, was of Ojibwa heritage, and his Mother, Nora Tulip, was from the Haida Nation.

From a young age, Pat began drawing and painting, learning about Haida art and culture from his Uncle. He was quickly drawn to argillite and is perhaps best known for his argillite carvings. In his twenties, he moved to Vancouver and where he worked with many artists, including Pat Dixon, Denny Dixon, Ron Russ, and Doug Wilson. Pat was widely regarded as an unmistakable talent.

“When I started carving in 1959, the rave was what a great carver Pat McGuire was. Many people from Skidegate spoke highly of his work. I never met him until I moved to Vancouver in 1965. I was very curious to see his work, to see what made it great so I could be a great carver. I was amazed when I finally saw his work. During this time period the art carved in argillite was a slim shadow of the classical period of Haida Art. After I learned more of the principles of the classical period, in looking at what he was creating I was in awe of how he was able to create with an understanding of the old masters. His main forte was argillite, later water colour on paper.” 

– Robert Davidson (Haida Gwaii Museum, “Patrick McGuire, Haida Artist.”)

Pat sadly passed away in 1970 at only 27 years old.