Owl Mask

Kevin Cranmer was born in Alert Bay, but has resided in Victoria, British Columbia, for the majority of his life. Cranmer can trace his ancestry to many tribes in the Kwa’kwaka’wakw nation, including ‘Nagmis, Mamalilikala, Kwagiutl, Da’naxda’xw and Lawit’sis.

Cranmer’s first artistic experience came as a young boy when he would accompany his father to Tony Hunt’s Arts of the Raven Gallery. During these visits, he was able to observe his father, Danny, and other artists at work. Inspired by Danny and encouraged by his mother, Lily, his first formal instruction came under the tutelage of his cousin, George Hunt Jr..

He later approached master carver Tony Hunt, with whom he worked to further his understanding of traditional Kwagiulth design.

Cranmer’s introduction to larger, monumental sculpture began when he started working alongside renowned Nuu-chah-nulth artist Tim Paul in Thunderbird Park at the Royal British Columbia Museum.

Kevin’s credits include several large cooperative projects: a forty-foot pole, which stands in Stanley Park, a thirty-foot pole on display at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa and a thirty-six foot pole carved for the closing ceremonies at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.