Marven Tallio was born in 1966 in Bella Bella, British Columbia situated along the central coast of the province. He is a member of the Nuxalk nation formerly known as the Bella Coola. The Killerwhale, Grizzly Bear and the Eagle are his predominant family crest symbols.

Marven studied jewelry design under Haisla master carver, Derek Wilson. Marven’s father, Glenn Tallio, is an accomplished mask carver with works in Museums around the world. He has passed on his knowledge and talent to Marven. They and a small group of exceptionally gifted Nuxalk artists are working hard to preserve the distinctive Nuxalk style for future generations.

Marven is versed in various media of design including original painting, printmaking, silver and gold design and woodcarving. Today, his masks are in demand by many international collectors and his pieces can be found in many collections worldwide including the UBC Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver and the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. In 2005, Marven’s work was included in the “Totems to Turquoise” exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He was one of a select group of artists recognized as among the best carvers of Northwest Coast jewelry in the world.

As Marven continues to grow as an artist, his artwork continues to evolve with the knowledge he has gained. He has educated himself in traditional Nuxalk styles. As an artist he also seeks to explore his creative vision and go beyond traditional boundaries. “It is up to the individual if he wants to experiment with different materials, maybe add in some new stories about our lives in this day and age.”