Stephen Bruce was born in alert Bay British Columbia. He is from the Namgis Tribe of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation. He began to carve at the age of 18 with local carvers Ned Matilpi, Beau Dick, and Wayne Alfred. Stephen has assisted numerous artists with monumental commissions earning him a reputation for monumental work, as well as an understanding and ability to answer to contractual obligations at a very early point in his career. This has continued to be a factor as he has received numerous commissions for totem poles, assisted on many large scale projects including a replica Kwakwaka'wakw village for a theme park in Holland, and he has completed a solo exhibition for the Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art.