Ron Senungetuk

Ron Senungetuk was born in Wales, Alaska and grew up with traditional Inupiaq values, surrounded by a rich cultural heritage. Senungetuk received his BFA from the School for American Craftsman at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and a degree from Statens Handverks og Kunstindustri Skole, in Oslo, Norway where he studied sculpture and metalsmithing. Senungetuk has received many distinguished honors and awards including a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Norway and the State of Alaska Governor’s Award for the Arts in 1979. He was named Professor of Art, Emeritus at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in 1986. Senungetuk founded and directed the UAF Native Arts Center and was the head of the UAF Art Department from 1977 until his retirement in 1986. Senungetuk continues to produce art, participating in many group shows and solo exhibitions. He is a frequent guest speaker, presenter and panelist. A recipient of the 2008 Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist Award, he currently resides in Homer.