Swanson, Ernest

Ernest Swanson was born in King County, Washington in 1981 and grew up on Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia. He is a matrilineal descendent of Charles Edenshaw, and grandson to the late Rufus Moody.

In addition to completing two design courses with Robert Davidson, Ernest has studied with such established Haida artists as Jim McGuire, Christian White, Jim Hart and Dan Wallace.

In 2005, Ernest earned the Emerging Artist award from British Columbia’s Alliance of Arts and Culture presented by Robert Davidson, recipient of the award in Visual Arts.

Ernest Swanson and Tyson Brown assisted Jim Hart on the carving of the Celebration of Bill Reid pole which was raised February 21, 2009 at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art.

Working mostly in silver and gold, Ernest has also created beautiful argillite pieces. His work is fine in detail and true to his Haida heritage.