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acrylic on canvas, 1979
31 x 26 in, 78.74 x 66.04 cm
Shaman, acrylic on paper
31 x 22 in, 78.70 x 55.9 cm
Untitled, acrylic on paper, 1969,
15 1/4 x 22 3/4 in, 38.7 x 57.8 cm
Untitled acrylic on paper c 1970,
32 x 40 in, 81.3 x 101.6 cm
Untitled, acrylic on paper, c. 1980
19 x 28 in, 43.8 x 71.1 cm
Thunderbird, acrylic on paper, c. 1980
24 x 34 in, 61 x 86.4 cm
Norval Morrisseau

Born on Sandy Point Reserve near Beardmore, Ontario
1932 – 2007
Ojibwe artist
Royal Canadian Academy of Art (RCA)

Norval Morrisseau is one of Canada’s most accomplished artists and arguably the most recognized First Nations artist in the world. His works are exhibited throughout North America, as well as in France, Germany and Norway. He was presented with the Order of Canada in 1978, and became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 1970. He was introduced to the Canadian public at the Pollock Gallery, Toronto, in 1962.

Norval Morrisseau was largely a self-taught painter, printmaker, and illustrator. He created a unique pictographic style of painting called The Woodland School, influenced by Anishnabe iconography.
His colourful, figurative images are delineated with heavy black form lines and x-ray articulations. Norval's works reflect his Ojibwe heritage, and, the Native Midewiwin and Christiian religions.

He was appointed Grand Shaman of the Ojibway and became a member of the spiritual/healing Midewiwin Society. Morrisseau continued to study Ojibwe shamanistic practices, which he believed elevated his work to a higher plane of understanding. He was given the name Copper Thunderbird (Miskwaabik Animiiki); this name is signed in syllabics on his paintings.

In 1980, Norval Morrisseau was presented with honourary doctorates from McGill and McMaster Universities. In 1995, the Assembly of First Nations also honoured Morrisseau. His work is found in most major public collections in Canada and beyond.

Norval Morrisseau has completed many commissions during his career, including the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo '67. He has been the subject of numerous publications and three feature films produced by the National Film Board of Canada. In Ontario, his works are exhibited in the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario.


































The McMichael Canadian Art Collection:  Norval Morrisseau

Canadian Museum of Civilization:  Norval Morrisseau

The Canadian Encyclopedia:  Norval Morrisseau

Smithonion: Norval Morrisseau - Shaman

Cybermuse Gallery:   Norval Morrisseau

CBC:   Copper Thunderbird – Norval Morrisseau

Lakehead University:   Norval Morrisseau

The Governor General of Canada:   Installation of a Norval Morrisseau painting

National Film Board of Canada:   Norval Morrisseau

Telefilm Film Canada:   Norval Morrisseau

CBC: A Separate Reality: The Life and Times of Norval Morrisseau

Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art:   Norval Morrisseau

National Gallery of Canada: Norval Morrisseau Retrospective a First for National Gallery of Canada

National Museum of the American Inian:  Norval Morrisseau

New York Times:  Norval Morrisseau 

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection:  Norval Morrisseau, Shaman and Disciples


Art & Culture:  Norval Morrisseau

Northern Waterways:  Norval Morrisseau

The Star:  Norval Morrisseau

CMAJ:  Norval Morrisseau









Norval Morrisseau is a celebrated Canadian First Nations artist (Ojibwe), born in 1932 on Sandy Point Reserve, near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Norval Morrisseau created the artistic style known as Woodland.
La Parete Gallery – Fine Art Gallery - Toronto - Canada La Parete Gallery is recognized for its selection of Fine Art: Canadian Art - Native Art - Inuit Art - First Nations Art - International Art
Artists: Antonio, Carl Beam, Paul-Vanier Beaulieu, Molly Lamb Bobak, David Bolduc, Miller Brittain, Christopher Broadhurst,
Frank Leonard Brooks, Israel Broytman, Jack Bush, Antonio Cardarelli, J. Cardinal-Schubert,
Konrad Cramer,
Greg Curnoe, Pal Fried, Richard Gorman, Giovanni Guarlotti, Tom Hodgson,
Gershon Iskowitz, André Jasmin,

Lee L'Clerc, Kenneth Lochhead,
Alexandra Luke, René Marcil, Isabel McLaughlin, Norval Morrisseau, Louis Muhlstock,
William Ogilvie, Frère Jérôme Paradis, William Ronald, Rolph Scarlett, Armand Schonberger,
Gerald Scott, Michael J. Seward, Arthur Shilling, Roland Strasser, Peter Taçon, Harold Town, Jesus Carlos de Vilallonga,
Hiroshi Yamamoto, Ruben Zellermayer