Gabriel Frey

Gabriel Frey, is a Passamaquoddy Artist known for his craftsmanship of highly original pack baskets, and his commitment to pedagogical models that promote wider knowledge of Indigenous worldviews. He specializes in uniquely decorative utility baskets and has received multiple national awards for traditional craft and design, including the United States artist fellowship in 2018 and the Maine artists fellowship in 2020.

Growing up in Sipayik and Motahkomikuk, Gabriel learned all aspects of black ash basket making tradition, from locating the black ash tree and processing the log into weaving material, to weaving the basket. Over the past 24 years Gabriel has strived to honor his grandfather’s style of basket making while incorporating his own modern aesthetic. He has also expanded into more traditional and non-traditional art forms to broaden Wabanaki storytelling through metalwork and birchbark basketmaking. In 2020 Gabriel and his wife published their first children's book, with a goal of greater Indigenous representation in publishing. Gabriel currently resides with his wife and two children in Orono, Maine.