"My hope is that my work helps to keep the traditions alive so they are passed onto the next generation."

Chazz Mack, a talented artist of Nuxalk and Heiltsuk heritage, hails from Bella Coola, where he is a member of the Raven, Grizzly, and Double Headed Sea Serpent clans. While a member of the Heiltsuk Nation, he has spent most of his life in Nuxalk Territory. A graduate of the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, Chazz has been surrounded by art and artists his whole life, with his father, Joe Mack, being a well-known local artist. He has also shared his knowledge by teaching at the Acwsalcta School.

With over a decade of experience, Chazz is a prolific painter whose fluid, engaging work often reflects the natural world around him, with animals of the land and sea as recurring themes. In addition to painting, he carves with alder and cedar, creating unique jewelry that blends traditional and contemporary elements. His work is marked by a youthful luminosity, and he recently contributed to the carving of two significant community totem poles. Chazz's Nuxalk name, Nunuusxli, meaning “Is a fast learner” or “likes to learn things,” reflects his ongoing artistic growth.

Follow Chazz Mack on Instagram.

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