Coast Salish Art

The Coast Salish peoples are indigenous to the southeastern part of the area often referred to as Vancouver Island, lower mainland of British Columbia, and the northern part of Washington State. Salish artists are most iconically known for their textiles, such as the famous Cowichan sweaters, but also produce a diverse array of artforms, including basketry, sculptures, and prints. The basis for Salish designs is the use of three basic geometric elements: the trigon, circle, and crescent. These shapes differ from the style of the more northern people of the Pacific Northwest Coast, who often utilize form line design. The use of geometric symmetry in Coast Salish art is often said reflects the balance of nature. In fact, the environment is a common element in Salish art, where animals-like forms are often seen on their own or combined with human-like forms. Such ambiguity is deliberate since Salish notions of spirits are intensively private. Coast Salish artists also respect The Ancestors through their artwork by remaining true to conventional narratives and lifeways.