Arlene Ness is a Gitxsan carver, jeweller, and artist based in Gitanmaax of Northwest British Columbia. She creates a diverse range of artworks for collectors, private commissions, and cultural use clients, all with a clean and elegant aesthetic.

Arlene Ness, member of Git Luhxw Lim Het’Wit - Wilps Tsi Basaa (Giskaast of the Gitxsan Nation) is a mother and grandmother who shares her knowledge, continuing the tradition of passing down oral history to the next generations.

Part of her knowledge sharing is also with her art and carving, teaching at workshops and college courses. Arlene teaches Northwest Coast carving, totem pole carving, knife making, painting, design and jewelry.

After a lifetime of drawing and painting, exploring other art mediums such as stained glass and pen and ink; Arlene started her Northwest Coast Art training at the carving school at K’san historical village, a First Nation Fine Art school named “Kitanmaax School of Indian Art and Design” with instructor Vernon Stephens. Arlene then went on to attend the Freda Diesing School of First Nation Fine Art as a part of the first graduating class in 2008.

During her studies Arlene also learned introductory jewelry at a workshop then became an apprentice under Earl Muldon for engraving jewelry and totem pole carving. She continued her exploration in jewelry making to learn, on her own, gem setting and other jewelry making techniques. All of her explorations she was then able to curate a great introductory course in jewelry basics, which she teaches in workshop format and college course format.

During all this she raised her family, learned more art mediums, participated in group shows and solo shows, travelled far for her art and garnered awards and followers for her art.