Greenland carver's political sculpture draws global attention and opportunities

A Greenland artist carved a tupilak featuring Donald Trump that sold quickly, and the attention has coincided with a rise in international interest, including a planned showing at the National Gallery of Canada.

Kim Kleist‑Eriksen, a Kalaaleq carver in Nuuk, has combined traditional carving with political themes after feeling anger when U.S. interest in Greenland intensified. He created a tupilak — a Greenlandic spirit/monster — that replaces colonizers' faces with Donald Trump's and said the work reflected his reaction to those events. The piece was posted on social media and sold within minutes. The heightened attention has coincided with growing international interest in Greenland from tourists and cultural institutions. Known details: - Artist Kim Kleist‑Eriksen said he carved the tupilak after feeling anger and concern following remarks about Greenland; he replaced colonizers' faces in one work with Donald Trump's face. - Kleist‑Eriksen said the new sculpture sold within about ten minutes of being posted on social media. - The National Gallery of Canada confirmed a sculpture by Kleist‑Eriksen, Erlaveersiniooq, will be on display starting in June as part of the Qillaniq exhibition of circumpolar Arctic artists. - Tourism operators report increased international interest since the headlines about Greenland, and a Nuuk-based tour company said it has grown staff and revenue in recent months. - Greenland opened a new Nuuk airport in late 2024 to accommodate larger aircraft, the territory welcomed over 140,000 tourists in 2024, and some communities face a shortage of hotel rooms. Summary: The artist's political carving has drawn wider attention to Greenland and led to a rapid private sale and an upcoming museum showing in Canada. At the same time, tourism interest has risen and Greenland is expanding infrastructure and promoting longer-stay visitors; several airport projects and a national gallery exhibition are scheduled in the near term.