CULTURAL GROUP:
Gitksan

BORN:
January 8, 1950 - June 29, 2016

BIRTHPLACE:
Hazelton, BC

Phil Janzé began working in metal at age thirteen. He then graduated from B.C.I.T. in 1970. Shortly after, he was invited to participate in a jewellery workshop led by a celebrated English goldsmith named Peter Page, here in Vancouver. His many widely exhibited and published works include silkscreen prints, carvings, totem poles, masks, and gold and silver repoussé jewellery. Phil was recognized by the Canadian Jeweller's Challenge from 1982-84 for creating one of the six finest pieces in Canada. He is the only Native artist to have accomplished this to date. Phil also won top prize in jewellery-making from the Indian Northern Affairs Canada Purchase Show in 1984. In 1989, he made a 34" round copper Sun mask using the repoussé technique. This was the first large-scale repoussé sculpture to ever be created in contemporary Northwest Coast art. In 2012, Phil received the British Columbia Creative Achievement Award for his artistic contributions. In 2019, he was featured in the publication Understanding Northwest Coast Indigenous Jewelry by author Alex Dawkins. Phil is acknowledged as a master of Northwest Coast art.He is represented in public and corporate collections in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Japan, and is acknowledged as a master of Northwest Coast Art.