Alano Edzerza

Alano Edzerza

Alano Edzerza belongs to the Raven clan of the Tahltan Nation. Born in 1981, he has been an artist since he could hold a pencil; and received his first recognition of merit at age thirteen for a sculpture award from the school board of Victoria.  This early talent developed rapidly into a professional career with international gallery and museum shows.

Alano began working in Northwest Coast art under the tutelage of his family member, fellow Tahltan artist, Terrance Campbell.  In 2002 Alano furthered his education by attending school in Arizona for jewelry making under the instruction of Rick Charlie.  He has also had the opportunity to work with artists Jay Simeon, Marcel Russ, Philip Grey, Corey Bulpitt, and many others. Currently he shares a studio in Vancouver and works with Rick Adkins, whom Alano considers one of the top jewelry designers in the Vancouver area.

As of late, Alano has been working with glass and experimenting with this medium. Alano Edzerza has been featured in 8 major shows. In October of 2007, Alano had his first solo show at Stonington Gallery in Seattle, where he featured new pieces in glass, jewelry, stone, steel and limited edition prints. In August of 2008, Alano celebrated the grand opening of Edzerza Gallery with Black Ice, a study in grayscale art of the Northwest Coast.

Alano has also recently completed three twelve by four foot installations in the medium of steel for one building, and is currently working with two other large building projects.

If you were to walk around, two hundred years ago, from California to Alaska you would see, wear and live Northwest Coast art and Culture. I want to be a part of the movement that will allow this to happen once again Peoples of the Northwest Coast did not develop a written language they developed an art form to tell the stories of our histories. This art form developed into one of the most advanced art forms in the world. This is also what makes this art so beautiful. The ways that balance is used within the formline. When you look at a piece your eye subconsciously continues to move studying the design because one shape flows into the next using variation of curves and thicknesses. This is the art of a once dying culture. It’s the art that is bringing the culture back alive. This is the reason why I work so hard towards my goal."