Percy is originally from Chefornak, Alaska.  He now lives in Anchorage, Alaska.  His parents are John and Arlene Avugiak of Chefornak.  His grandparents are Percy and Elizabeth Agloinga of White Mountain, and Willis and Anna Avugiak of Chefornak. In 2006 Percy received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Percy recollects "when I was at UAF, I met a lot of friends at RSS.  Friends from different parts of Alaska like me to receive a college education.  RSS provided services and guidance to us all."  The student club that I was involved with was the Inu-Yupiaq Dance group.  I would strongly suggest current students to be part of this club because it's where students get to share their culture, traditions, songs/dance, stories and art.  My early challenges was being homesick and getting stressed.  But I felt better every time when I visited RSS or being part of the Inu-Yupiaq dance group.  First thing is to always check your Native corporation if they provide scholarships and grants.  And ask your RSS advisor.  After receiving my college degree, I've been working on my artwork by having my artwork in exhibitions, events and festivals, with some interviews and reviews.  I taught art at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.  In the past few years I have gotten a lot of commissions to paint my abstract paintings. One commission was for the new Target store grand opening in Wasilla, Alaska. It was later donated to the Alaska Native Heritage Center.  One large commission painting is at the new Veteran's Affair clinic building in Anchorage, Alaska.  Most recently my painting was selected for the 2011 National Indian Welfare Association 29^th Annual "Protecting Our Children" National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, which will be held in Anchorage April 17-20, 2011.  Every year I have donated my artwork to annual art auctions in Alaska.  Donating to the KAKM channel 7 art auctions gave me the opportunity to talk about my artwork live on TV, and having me in their short art preview commercials.  The KNBA art auction gave me the opportunity to talk on the radio about my artworks, and meet many high profile people throughout the state of Alaska.  Since my mom and wife are Bering Straits shareholders, I also donated to the Bering Straits Native Corporation to help the scholarship fund.  I sell my carvings, jewelry, paintings, originals and prints at arts and crafts tables in Alaska throughout the year.  In Anchorage I sell during Christmas Bazaars, Alaska Federation of Native crafts fair, Fur Rondy crafts fair, Arctic Slope Regional Corp. monthly crafts day, Alaska Native Heritage Center, and at the Alaska Native Medical Center.

            My artwork can be seen at corporate collections: 

            Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska

            Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska

            South Central Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska

            Bering Straits Native Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska

            Calista Native Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska

            Chugach Alaska Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska

            Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska

            Doyon Limited, Fairbanks, Alaska

            BP, Anchorage, Alaska

            Cook Inlet Regional Inc., Anchorage, Alaska

            Veteran's Affair Clinic, Anchorage, Alaska

I will continue working as an Alaskan Native Artist.  Through my work I hope to attract an audience to new forms of Native art, especially youth whose contemporary culture includes comic books, movies, and video games. Although the subject matter is new, my work will reflect a Native humor found among villages in rural Alaska for decades.  The knowledge I learn in college has combined with the knowledge I have in my Eskimo culture and heritage.  Many of my experiences are reflected in my work, and it continues every day.

Congratulations Percy! You are a mentor and role model for many Alaska Native youth and RSS is proud to know you.