A breathtaking retrospective of Canada's most important Native artist. Norval Morrisseau is perhaps the greatest Native artist ever to have lived. He is a shaman, a storyteller and the inspiration for one of Canada's most vibrant and exciting art movements, the Woodland School of Art. Through his magical paintings he has given new life to ancient Native legends and fables and has helped to restore the dignity of his once-proud people. This new edition introduces numerous previously unpublished works to the book, as well as commentaries by collectors who have followed Morrisseau's artistic development through the decades. It also includes Duke Redbird's "The Ballad of Noval Morrisseau," a deeply spiritual poem that personifies the power the artist's paintings have for his people. A true celebration of the art and life of this remarkable man, Norval Morrisseau: Return to the House of Invention, provides insights into the artist's imagination and mastery of his medium. In three essays, and the quotations that accompany the paintings, we learn about Morrisseau's approach to his work and the important historical and cultural influences that shaped his art. He tells us, in his own words, about his travels to the dream-like House of Invention, his source of inspiration for both content and colour. In Norval Morrisseau: Return to the House of Invention, we learn of the myths and legends of his ancestors, which had a profound influence on his brush, and how they relate to his work. The book now contains paintings and other pieces created over Morrisseau's entire career. It is complemented by an essay by Donald C. Robinson, in which he describes the painter's unique approach to the physical act of painting, and explains how Morrisseau has developed as a master technician and colorist despite having little formal training. Norval Morrisseau is truly one of the most original and significant artists Canada has ever produced. This exceptional volume stands as a testament to both his incredible talent as a painter and his inspiring depth as a man.

Norval Morrisseau
from Key Porter Books

Norval Morrisseau is a shaman, a storyteller and the inspiration for one of Canada's most vibrant and exciting national art movements - The Woodland School of Art. Through his magical paintings he has given life to ancient Native legends and fables and has helped to restore the dignity of his people. Through his essays and notations that accompany his paintings, we learn of the cultural and historical influences that have shaped his art. He tells us, in his own words, about his travels to the dream-like House of Invention, his source of inspiration for both content and colour. We learn of the myths and legends of his ancestors, passed down orally through generations, which form the basis of his work. The second part of the book, which contains paintings and other pieces from the earlier days of Morrisseau's career, opens with an essay by Donald C. Robinson, in which he describes Morissau's unique approach to the physical act of painting and explains how Morrisseau has developed as a master technician and colourist despite having little formal training. Robinson has the exclusive right to represent Morrisseau and his work. Buy this book

Morrisseau Makes Mark
National Gallery: First Solo Show By A First Nations Artist
Vancouver Province

Artist's Bio

Shop Hill's for Norval Morrisseau