Local Artisan

Dustin Cross

Skidegate

About the Artisan

Dustin Cross

Dustin Cross is a talented Haida carver and multimedia artist from Skidegate on Haida Gwaii. His studio is on Front Street in Skidegate.

Artistic Backgrounds & Works - Media and Materials: Skilled in wood, precious metals (silver, gold, copper), and fine-grained argillite stone. Creation Types: Known for crafting totem poles, wearable art/jewelry like earrings, and culturally significant sculptures depicting Haida cosmology. He works with a variety of materials including wood, silver, gold, copper, and argillite, creating traditional totem poles, jewelry, and detailed sculptures featuring his personal and ancestral family crests. His work follows the rich tradition of Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous art, featuring traditional creatures like eagles, bears and wolves.

Artistic Focus and Themes - Crest Integration: Incorporates traditional crest figures into his woodwork, frequently featuring symbols like the sculpin, sea bear, hummingbird, dragonfly, eagle, beaver, raven, and frog. Cultural Connection: Roots his carving practice deeply in the traditions, stories, and landscapes of Skidegate and Haida Gwaii. Mediums: Works primarily with wood to shape monumental and mid-sized totem poles, wall plaques, and cultural figures. As well as silver, copper and gold for jewelry and pendants.
— Dustin Cross

Selected Works