A generously sized 18 oz mug featuring Cycle of Life by Northern Tutchone artist Richard Shorty.

Made from fine bone china, the mug is surprisingly light for its size, while still feeling substantial in the hand. Shorty’s signature is printed inside.

Artist's estate receives royalties from sales of this product.

+ About the Artist

Richard Shorty (1959–2024) was a Northern Tutchone artist from the Kwanlin Dün First Nation in Whitehorse, Yukon. A largely self-taught artist, he began by painting the things that interested him: wildlife, landscapes, rock stars and sports figures. In the early 1980s he began studying Northwest Coast design, first through books and later by learning from other artists after moving to Victoria.

Those two ways of drawing eventually came together in a style that became distinctly his own. Shorty kept the recognizable shape and movement of the animals he had always painted, then brought Northwest Coast forms inside their bodies.
The result is work that can feel both realistic and highly graphic at the same time. He carried that approach across paintings, drums, paddles, masks, rattles and other forms throughout his career

+ Behind the Artwork 

Cycle of Life is about the relationship between people, the land and the natural cycles that sustain life. The University of Victoria uses Richard Shorty’s artwork to represent the idea that respect for those natural cycles, together with Indigenous knowledge of sustainability, helps ensure abundance for future generations.

The image also reflects reciprocity.
People are not separate from the land, but part of a living system in which each element depends on the others. In that sense, the bear is not simply the subject of the artwork. It sits inside a larger cycle of life, return and responsibility.

+ Product Details

Artwork: Cycle of Life
Artist: Richard Shorty (1959–2024)
Affiliation: Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Northern Tutchone
Material: Fine bone china
Capacity: 18 oz
Care: Microwave and dishwasher safe
Detail: Artist's signature printed inside the mug
Royalties: Artist's estate receives royalties from sales of this product.

+ Shipping Options

Ground shipping in USA and Canada: US$15.95
Faster services and international shipping calculated at checkout.

+ Returns

If you’re not happy with the item you received you may return it within 2 weeks after delivery. Please contact us at hello@lightcodesstudio.ca for return address.

The only condition is that the item and its gift box are both in perfect condition. Upon receiving your return you will be fully refunded.

One favor: Please tell us in a few words why the item in question failed to meet your expectations. We'd like to learn from our mistakes.