John Hoover

John Hoover was born in Cordova, AK. His Aleut mother was raised by Russian priests. Hoover spent his youth fishing and creating art. Drawn to the colors and stories of traditional Northwest Coast carvings, he found inspiration in boat building and sculpture.

Fascinated by Shamanism its transformative aspect, Hoover featured these themes extensively in his work. His pieces communicate contemporary interpretations of Aleut legends, as well as the personal satisfaction he gained through the act of creation.

Inspired by travel to Asia and the indigenous woodworking techniques of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, his work incorporates surrealistic characteristics. His elongated and grouped wooden forms are instantly recognizable. Their spiritual, peaceful stylized forms reflect Hoover’s creative ethos: a life’s search for something beyond the ordinary.

Hoover was recognized by the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Philbrook Art Center. Commissions included an installation at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, consisting of thirty-four carved snow geese circling the rotunda, and a bronze sculpture titled, “Seaweed People.” It was installed in The First Lady’s Sculpture Garden at the White House.

Hoover passed away in Washington State in 2011, at the age of 91.