Norval Morrisseau: Shaman And Disciples

Norval Morrisseau, also called Copper Thunderbird, is among the most significant artists of the 20th century. Referred to as the grandfather of Canada’s contemporary Indigenous art for his creation of a new visual language—one inspired in part by the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation practices and oral histories passed on to him by his grandfather. Morrisseau created a visual connection between the past and present through his art using a modern style of two-dimensional shapes, bold black outlines, and unblended vibrant colours. A founder of the Woodland School of painting and the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc., the breadth of his influence continues to grow