Henry White

Haida artist Henry White was born in 1943 into the Yahgu’laanaas of Daadans Raven Clan and is the great-grandson of the 19th-century Haida master carver Charles Edenshaw. His mother Lavina Lightbown was an argillite carver in the 1960's and 1970's, and his brothers Greg Lightbown, Bill Lightbown Jr, and Shane Lightbown also became artists.

Henry grew up in Masset on Haida Gwaii and initially worked as a fisherman. He began carving argillite in 1970 and received encouragement and instruction from the well-known Haida argillite carver Pat Dixon.

White is known for his model argillite poles and sculptures, lidded argillite bowls and plates, and castings. Henry White was also commissioned by the Province of British Columbia to create Bronze and Copper Canoe Talismans for presentation to International dignitaries at Expo '86 in Vancouver.

White's work is held in the collections of the UBC Museum of Anthropology, and his striking argillite mask of Volcano Woman is held by the Museum of Northern British Columbia in Prince Rupert, BC.