Collection: Norval Morrisseau

RCAe, OC (1933-2007)

Born in Breadmore, Fort William, Ontario, Morisseau is a self-taught Ojibway artist who began to paint in 1959. Working in acrylic, oil, ink, gouache, tempera, silkscreen, wood and textiles, he is known for his bold symbolic designs and bright flat colours painted in a unique manner that blended a traditional style of native art with contemporary painting. His paintings, prints and carvings depict his Ojibway rituals, ceremonies and legends. He associated with other Woodland artists such as Daphne Odjig, Alex Simeon Janvier, Jackson Beardy and Carl Ray in Beardmore, Ontario and also lived in Manitoba, on Vancouver Island, adn in Vancouver, BC. Morrisseau held a solo exhibition of his work at the MQ in 1966, exhibited a mural in the Indian Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal, and showed at the UBC Museum of Anthropology in 2000. His work is in the collections of the AGO, CCAB, GM, HAG, MCMC, ROM, AND WAG.