Syllabic Translator

i u a pi pu pa ti tu ta ki ku ka gi gu ga mi mu ma ni nu na si su sa li lu la ji ju ja vi vu va ri ru ra qi qu qa ngi ngu nga lhi lhu lha

Click a syllabic button to enter it into the search field above


Or try our Advanced Search tool.

Norval H. Morrisseau, R.C.A., ᐅᓵᐚᐱᐦᑯᐱᓀᐦᓯ

Anishinaabe

(1931-2007)

First Name: Norval 

Last Name: Morrisseau

Full Name: Jean-Baptiste Norman Henry Morrisseau

Name in syllabics: (Cree syllabics) ᐅᓵᐚᐱᐦᑯᐱᓀᐦᓯ (Ozaawaabiko-binesi, unpointed: ᐅᓴᐘᐱᑯᐱᓀᓯ, "Copper/Brass [Thunder]Bird"), as his pen-name for his Anishnaabe name ᒥᐢᒁᐱᐦᐠ ᐊᓂᒥᐦᑮ (Miskwaabik Animikii, unpointed: ᒥᐢᑿᐱᐠ ᐊᓂᒥᑭ, "Copper Thunderbird").

Date of birth: March 14, 1931/32

Place of birth: Sand Point Ojibwe reserve near Beardmore, Ontario, Canada

Date of death: December 4, 2007

Community: Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation

Sex: Male

Alternative Names: Copper Thunderbird, Miskwaabik Animiiki

Website: http://www.morrisseau.com

Bio:

Norval Morrisseau is known for originating the Woodland School of Painting, also referred to as Legend or Medicine Painting. Characterized by bright colours, bold outlines and abstract forms, it is rich with spiritual imagery and symbolism, and blends together traditional legends, myths and culture with contemporary mediums. Morrisseau’s work was influenced by traditional Anishnaabe decorative arts, Midewiwin birchbark scrolls and petroglyphs.

Morrisseau was born on the Sand Pond Ojibwe Reserve near Beardmore, Ontario. Following tradition, he was raised by his maternal grandparents. His grandfather, a shaman, taught Morrisseau the Ojibwe language, legends, and culture while his grandmother, a devout Catholic, instructed him on the tenets of Christianity. 

At the age of 19, Morrisseau became severely ill. In the Anishnaabe tradition, a sick or dying person may regain strength and energy by being given a new, more powerful name. Accordingly, a healing ceremony was held to rename Morrisseau “Copper Thunderbird.” After his subsequent recovery, Morrisseau would go on to sign his work with this new moniker.

Morrisseau was largely self-taught. He left school after the fourth grade and would ultimately find work in construction and mining while continuing to pursue his art during off-hours. Word of Morrisseau’s art spread; his first professional show was held in 1962 in Toronto at the Pollock Gallery and was hailed as a new development in Canadian art. 

Morrisseau’s success helped bring Indigenous art and culture to the attention of many Canadians. Along with Daphne Odjig, Alex Janvier, Carl Ray, Eddy Cobiness, Jackson Beardy and Joseph Sanchez, Morrisseau co-founded the Professional Indian Artists Incorporation, alternately known as "The Indian Group of Seven" in 1973, which would influence generations of artists to follow. 

Morrisseau was awarded the Order of Canada in 1978 for his contributions to Canadian art and in 2006 was the first Indigenous artist to have a solo exhibition in the National Gallery of Canada.

Exhibitions

  • 1961: Hughes Gallery, London, Ontario
  • 1962: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1963: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1964: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1965: Hart House Gallery at University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1965: Galerie Godard Lefort, Montreal, Quebec
  • 1966: Musée du Québec (now renamed Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec), Quebec City, Quebec
  • 1966: Galerie Cartier (Co-sponsored by Pollock Gallery), Montreal, Quebec
  • 1968: Art Gallery of Newport (Sponsored by Galerie Cartier), Newport, Rhode Island, USA
  • 1969: Galerie St-Paul, St-Paul de Vence, France
  • 1972: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1974: Canadian Guild of Crafts, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1974: The Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 1974: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1975: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1975: Shayne Gallery, Montreal, Quebec
  • 1976: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1976: Gallery 115, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1977: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1977: Graphic Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 1978: Wells Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1978: First Canadian Place (sponsored by the Pollock Gallery), Toronto, Ontario
  • 1979: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1979: The Gallery Stratford, Stratford, Ontario
  • 1979: Shayne Gallery, Montreal, Quebec
  • 1979: The McMichael Canadian Collection (Artist in residence), Kleinburg, Ontario
  • 1979: Cardigan/Milne Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1980: Canadian Galleries, Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1980: Lynnwood Arts Centre, Simcoe, Ontario
  • 1980: Bayard Gallery, New York, New York, USA
  • 1981: Pollock Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1981: Anthony's Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1981: Anthony's Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 1981: Thunder Bay National Exhibition Centre, Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • 1981: Nexus Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1982: Moore Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario
  • 1982: Masters Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
  • 1982: Robertson Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1982: The New Man Gallery, London, Ontario
  • 1982: Nexus Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1982: Legacy Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1982: Scarborough Public Gallery, Scarborough, Ontario
  • 1984: Ontario Place, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1984: Ontario North Now, Kenora, Ontario
  • 1985: Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
  • 1986: First Canadian Place (joint exhibition with Brian Marion), Toronto, Ontario
  • 1986: Manulife Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1987: Gulf Canada Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1988: Sinclair Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 1989: The Art Emporium, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 1990: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1991: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1991: Wallack Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1992: Jenkins Showler Galleries, White Rock, British Columbia
  • 1994: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1997: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1999: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1999: The Drawing Centre, New York, New York, USA
  • 2001: Art Gallery of South Western Manitoba, Brandon, Manitoba
  • 2001: Canada House Gallery, Banff, Alberta
  • 2001: Drawing Center, New York, New York
  • 2002: Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • 2006: Steffich Fine Art, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
  • 2006: National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
  • 2006: Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • 2006: McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario
  • 2006: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2007: Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • 2007: The George Gustav Heye Center of the National Museum of the American Indian, New York, New York
  • 2011: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario

Retrospectives

  • 2008: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2010: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2012: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2014: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario
  • 2016: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, Ontario

Articles

Artwork


Recent Auction Results

SHAMAN'S APPRENTICE VISIONARY
Estimate: 800 — 1,200
Sold: Mar 2024 — Sold For: $848.70
LOOK WITHIN OURSELFS
Estimate: 300 — 350
Sold: Mar 2024 — Sold For: $270.60
SIMPLICITY
Estimate: 250 — 300
Sold: Nov 2022 — Sold For: $960
LIFE IN GENERAL
Estimate: 150 — 200
Sold: Sep 2022 — Sold For: $360
OJIBWAY MEDICINE MAN
Estimate: 350 — 500
Sold: Sep 2022 — Sold For: $390
SACRED TROUT WITH EGGS
Estimate: 100 — 125
Sold: Jul 2022 — Sold For: $132

Featured Content