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Khasalus Carvings

Squamish / Kwakwakawakw / Tlingit / Stl’atl’imc 

Welcome - Gila'kasla - O'siem

My Traditional names are Baxbakwalagalis Ha'kwala Thmae Kasa'las and I come from the House of Lilawagila of the Musgamagw Dzawadaenuxw. The House of Sintlem of the Kwakiutl, and the house of Sisantle'ayi from the Tlowitsis. I also come from the baker family of the Squamish Nation and the Thevarge/Doss families of the Sta'atl'imc and Nquatqua

 

Contact Information 

Thank you for your interest. For any inquiries, commission requests or studio visits. Please contact me today.

7788476754

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Kolten Khasalus Grant

Kolten is a multidisciplinary artist, raised in the village of Xwemelch’stn (Capilano reserve) and comes from the Baker family and is of the House of Liłuwagila. His lineage spans the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, Kwagulth, Tlowitsis, Squamish, and N’Quatqua St’at’imc Nations. He is also a descendant of renowned ancestors George Hunt of Fort Rupert and Mary Ebbetts (Anislaga) of the Tlingit Tongass, as well as Chief Shakes of Wrangell, Alaska.

 

Born into a rich cultural lineage, he has dedicated his whole life to art. Deeply rooted in the teachings of his ancestors, he works across a range of media including silver jewelry, digital art, printmaking, and traditional cedar wood carving. 

 

Kolten was trained by master artists Klathe Bhi and Kevin Cranmer. His work has been exhibited and sold in galleries across the Northwest Coast of BC, with commissions travelling internationally. He is also the recipient of the 2025 YVR Artist Award. His passion is to create work for his community and ceremonies and he carries a deep responsibility to pass on his artistic and cultural knowledge to the next generation.

 

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Contact for Commission Inquiry


Any mask you would like created? Or a specific piece that you are interested in? Give me your ideas, and we can work together to create your unique piece. Whether contemporary or traditional northwest coast style. I am confident i can create any form of carving you may be interested in. No job is too big or too small. Feel free to send me any inquiries you have in mind, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Gila’kasla - huyx chuxw - kukwstum̓úlhkacw -Thank you

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Projects in Progress..

Thank you

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Portrait

I painted this mask to pay homage to the salmon eating people of the northwest coast. Salmon being one of our prized resources is an the reason for our ancestors survival.
This mask has operculum shells for the teeth, and a inverted design to represent its origin from the undersea kingdom.

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Chilkat moon

This design on my chilkat moon is an eagle in a contemporary northern chilkat design. The eagle is representative of humbleness, humility, honour, an respect. 

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Full Moon

This extremely large moon was commissioned and completed for a client at a specific size of 30” by 30” by 9” thick. A beautiful piece of old growth red cedar.

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Balance 

This yellow cedar moon i have titled “Balance”. The design is inverted on one side representing positive and negative. Male and Female. The balance of opposing energy. The dark shadow over the moon is the outcome of being consumed without keeping balance between positive an negative. 

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Supernatural raven in motion

This sculpture is very unique! This raven panel measures 32 by 32 inches an is a thickness of 3 inches. Each area of the body is at different depths and is all natural hand carved cedar. It is made from yellow cedar an has such a beautiful colour.

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Volcano woman

This alder mask is a depiction of the volcano woman story. A great study that i enjoyed and learned a great deal from. Inspired by my late uncle Beau Dicks work, and a beautiful piece of alder given to me by Robert Davidson

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Rip tide mask

This beautiful mask was one of my favourites to create for a good friend of mine from the USA. He requested this portrait style which is explained below in the drowned spirit mask. The copper represents wealth and the connection with the Chief of the undersea kingdom and domain of Kumugwe my ancestor through my Tlakwagila family lineage of the Musgamagw Dzawad'enuxw side of my family.

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Messenger of Kumugwe

This mask is to eradicate negativity an only allow positive energy to flow in the space. This being originates from the undersea kingdom, and comes under direction from the bringer of wealth.

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Supernatural Hukw Hukw

This mask is five feet long an wearable/danceable for ceremony. it is for a private collection. Part of the sacred cedar bark ceremony (T’seka) it is one of bakbakwalinuksiwes servants in the sacred and prestigious Hamatsa societies ceremonies. 

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The cheif returning to the spirit world

This mask represents a teaching from my ancestors. They believed when a high ranking individual passed away the orcas would come to the beach and take their soul to the spirit world.

This mask i would like to give credit and a huge thanks to phil grey. He started the masked an blocked it out. He allowed me to complete the mask an it was a great teacher. Im extremely thankful for his teachings on this piece an has inspired me to continue pushing my abilities to create unique sculptures.

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Eagle clutching a salmon

This was a private commission for a good friend

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Spirit bear

This bear mask is in the same proportions as a black bear mask that I have previously created. This mask was requested to be a Kemode spirit bear for a private commission. 

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Thunderbird

Contemporary kwakwakawakw thunderbird with my family crest a sisiutl (three headed sea serpent) on the cheeks.  

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Orca panel

Hand carved 30 inch round orca panel

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Thunderbird panel

Thunderbird panel at 28 inches

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Bumblebee 

Kwakwakwakw bumble bee mask with cedar bark 

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Orca mask

Old growth red cedar Killer Whale mask with cedar bark

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Woodbug sculpture

Study of a Tlingit rattle and mask created by my late uncle Beau Dick. This sculpture incorporates a mask and panel combined and the wood bug is representative of a purification being.

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The cedar bark harvester

This portrait mask represents the sacred knowledge and teachings my ancestors have left for me and my family. The sacred tree of life and all of the sacred medicine we receive from it. 

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Komokwa

Cheif of the under sea kingdom and the bringer of wealth.

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Sea to sky

This was inspired by my clients adventure to hartley bear where they experienced all animals present on this panel. Spirit bear,eagle, and humpback whale

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Wagikala - the croaking of the frog

This represents a story in which my original ancestor was in a supernatural battle with an entity near Gilford Island BC Canada. The entity filled his stomach with frogs and this shows the frog crawling out. The frog is a sacred being that comes in and out of the spirit world and this represents that gift and message from the spirit world. 

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Drowned Spirit

This mask is to repel negative energy and was used by shaman to purify individuals and homes that were tainted by negative spirits. The only spirits left in limbo were those who drowned. In old times the Tlingit would cremated everyone so they pass on to the spirit world correctly. They understood that the negative spirits left behind were those who drowned and were in limbo so to speak. This mask reflects the image of the spirit to them and causes them to repel and flee. Although there is a ceremony involved that correctly allows the to cross over so they are no longer in limbo.

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Study of form an design 

This panel is a study of form an design awell as using up as much of the space as possible. It has abalone inlay and is all natural old growth yellow cedar. This extremely complicated sculpture measures 12 inches by 12 inches and was created using entirely custom fine carving knives that I had created for this specific small and difficult project.

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