Norval Morrisseau

Norval Morrisseau (Copper Thunderbird, ᐅᓵᐚᐱᐦᑯᐱᓀᐦᓯ, Jean-Baptiste Norman Henry Morrisseau; 1932 – 2007) was a self-taught Anishinaabe Canadian artist from the Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation. He is widely regarded as the grandfather of contemporary indigenous Folk Art in Canada. Known as the "Picasso of the North", he created works depicting the legends of his people, the cultural and political tensions between indigenous and modern traditions, existential struggles, spirituality, and mysticism. He established his own art style, called the Woodland Art style, which is characterised by thick black outlines, bright colours, X-ray views of people, flora, and fauna. While he initially painted on birch bark, the media associated with the Woodland style tends to be Western, such as acrylic, gouache, or watercolour paints on paper, wood panels, or canvas. He also founded the Woodlands School of Canadian Art and was a prominent member of the “Indian Group of Seven".