Alvin Adkins

Alvin was born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada in 1959. He is a self-taught artist who works in gold, silver, wood and argillite. Alvin is a member of the Haida nation, a group who inhabits the Queen Charlotte Islands-also known as Haida Gwaii-located along the northern coast of the province.

Beginning his career as an artist in 1971, Alvin has been counseled by distinguished colleagues such as Dempsey Bob, Freda Diesing, Bill Reid, Robert Davidson and Don Yeomans. Alvin has established himself as a prominent artist whose style reflects intricacy, experience and quality. He devotes most of his time to carving jewelry pieces which are sought after by many Pacific Northwest Coast Native art collectors.

During Alvin’s career as an artist he has contributed many of his works back to his community, helping to increase awareness of his tribe’s art forms and to raise funds to ensure that those art forms may continue to be supported. He was recently accepted into Venues’ Aboriginal Arts Program for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Alvin is one of the many Haida artists who aims-through maintaining the traditional Haida carving style-to preserve his heritage for future generations.