About

The Houston North Gallery, opened in 1981, is located in historic Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and is almost exclusively devoted to showing, selling and educating the public on Inuit art and culture. Founded in 1753, Lunenburg is the birthplace of the famous Bluenose and as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a must-see destination for anyone traveling to the East Coast of Canada. The gallery was originally owned and operated by John and Alma Houston, a son and mother team who spent much of their lives in the Arctic before moving south. With the passing of Alma in 1997, the gallery is now directed by John.

The history and philosophy of the gallery is immediately connected to the lives of the Houstons and the beginning of the Inuit art market in Canada. In 1948, John’s father, James Houston traveled to the Arctic on a drawing adventure to capture the lives and culture of the Inuit people. Upon realizing their talent for carving, he chose to stay and help them market their sculpture to the rest of the world. What started as an experiment soon turned into the main form of economic support for the Inuit, as their nomadic lives came to an end in the 1950s.

The Houston Family has more than 60 years of artistic collaboration with the Inuit of Canada, beginning in the 1950s when John’s father, James Houston brought world recognition to the art of the Inuit people. For nine years, the Houston Family lived in Cape Dorset on Baffin Island and helped establish a strong market for their art.

Through the Houston North Gallery, this legacy has continued while providing an educational outlet to help others learn more about Canada’s North and the people who have populated it for thousands of years.

We hope you enjoy our website where you will find a wide variety of Inuit art from various communities as well as Nova Scotian and Folk art. The gallery is also proud to offer an appraisal service for clients and strives to connect customers with the perfect piece of art for their collection.