Norval Morrisseau was born in 1932 in Fort Arthur
(Thunder Bay), Ontario. He is an Ojibwa artist who is the celebrated
founder of the Woodland School, which revitalized Anishnabe iconography,
traditionally incised on rocks and Midewiwin birch bark scrolls. He
is largely a self-taught painter, printmaker, and illustrator. His
work is recognized for its innovative vocabulary, which was initially
criticized in the Native community for its disclosure of traditional
spiritual knowledge. His colourful, figurative images are delineated
with heavy black form lines and x-ray articulations. His paintings
are often signed with the syllabic spelling of Copper Thunderbird,
the name his grandfather gave him.
A member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts since 1970, Norval
Morrisseau has completed many commissions during his career, including
the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo '67. He was
presented with the Order of Canada in 1978, and in 1980 honourary
doctorates from McGill and McMaster Universities. In 1995, the Assembly
of First Nations also honoured Morrisseau.
Morrisseau has been the subject of numerous publications and his
work is found in most major public collections in Canada and beyond.
He has transcended the stereotypical label and proven to be one
of Canada's genuine great artists.
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