Norval Morrisseau
About the Artist
Norval Morrisseau was a trailblazing Indigenous artist born in 1932 on the Sand Point Ojibwe reserve near Beardmore, Ontario. A self-taught visionary and spiritual teacher, Morrisseau became the founder of the Woodland School of Art, a bold and vibrant style that merged Ojibwe cosmology with contemporary expression.
Known as “Copper Thunderbird” — a name given to him during a healing ceremony — Morrisseau broke cultural and artistic barriers by sharing Anishinaabe stories, legends, and spiritual teachings through his art. His works burst with energy, characterized by thick black outlines, vivid color fields, and symbolic imagery rooted in the natural and spiritual world.
He was the first Indigenous artist in Canada to have a solo exhibition at a major gallery (the National Gallery of Canada, 2006), and is now recognized as one of the most important Indigenous artists in North America.
Artistic Style & Legacy
Morrisseau’s style is unmistakable: flat, interlocking shapes filled with saturated hues, outlined in heavy black “spirit lines.” His artwork tells stories of ancestral wisdom, animal spirits, transformation, duality, and the interconnectedness of all beings. By blending traditional oral narratives with contemporary painting techniques, he gave voice to centuries of Indigenous experience.
His influence can be seen in generations of Indigenous artists who followed, and his work laid the foundation for the Woodland School, which continues to thrive across Canada.
Selected Exhibitions
1962 – Norval Morrisseau: A Solo Exhibition, Pollock Gallery, Toronto
2006 – Norval Morrisseau: Shaman Artist, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
2013 – 7 Generations: The Art of Norval Morrisseau, Thunder Bay Art Gallery
2015 – Remembering Norval Morrisseau, Museum of Canadian Contemporary Native Art, Ottawa
Ongoing – Numerous retrospectives and exhibitions in public and private galleries across Canada, the USA, and Europe
Public Collections
Norval Morrisseau’s work is held in major collections, including:
National Gallery of Canada
Royal Ontario Museum
Art Gallery of Ontario
Glenbow Museum
Canadian Museum of History
Private collections worldwide
Artist Statement (Quote)
“All my painting and drawing is really a continuation of the shaman’s scrolls.”
Available Works
Capulet Art is proud to offer limited edition prints and art cards by Norval Morrisseau from the Edwards Collection. These prints were produced with the artist’s permission and represent a rare opportunity to own a piece of Canadian art history.