Uvaŋa Agnauraq.
Segavanquyaaq. Negovannaquyaaq.
Mamaga Agnuk Ulġuiniġmiu. Aapaga Saulaaq Ulġuiniġmiu. Aakaga Etook Ulġuiniġmiu.
Ulġuiniġmiuruŋa.
My name is Tristan Agnauraq Morgan. I’m an Iñupiaq and white contemporary artist practicing on traditional Dena’ina Athabaskan land (Anchorage, AK). My family (Segevan and Negovanna) is from Wainwright, AK. I have worked in mixed media, oil, and watercolor for most of my life. Since 2019, I have been a digital artist and a contracted graphic designer.
I graduated from the UAA with a Bachelor’s in Art and a minor in Professional Writing in 2017. In addition to being a practicing artist since then, I have worked with Alaska tribal communities on the front lines of climate change as a grant writer. I have a spiritual and cultural duty to serve communities, deepen my connection to the Arctic, and uplift Arctic voices. My art is a direct reflection of my love for my family, community, people, and culture.
Most Frequent Question: What do your [traditional] tattoos mean?
The two lines on my chin are called my “tavluġun”, and my finger tattoos are my “sassuma arnaa”. My tavluġun has personal meaning, but overall, it is a way for me to honor my ancestors and revive a cultural practice. My sassuma arnaa is a combination of a tribute to the Inuit sea goddess Sedna and personal markings.
Not all traditional Inuit tattoos mean the same thing, and designs and tattooing practices vary from community to community. See more through the Anchorage Museum’s IDENTIFYING MARKS: Tattoos and Expression.
Traditional Iñupiat Introductions are often given in Iñupiaq, then in English, including who your family is and where they are from. This practice is seen across Indigenous communities, allowing others to know and understand your cultural ties while showing respect for your family, people, and cultural values.
Iñupiaq names are given for various reasons, but are usually passed down from family members. I have three Iñupiaq names that were given to me from my late amao (great-grandmother), Rosie Negovanna, but family and community know me as Agnauraq.
