Artist Bio
Christian Morrisseau – All Of The Colors
“I speak as one son, an artist, and an Ojibwe. I am a born artist. This is not by accident. I work with and out of Anishnabe myths that have become the mark of the Woodland School of Art. I have had to contend with the terrible strength of my father’s vision. I am not alone. Such was his ability, that there is hardly a Native artist who does not learn from Norval’s artistic strength. My father taught by being. He never gave lessons. Art to him was waking in the morning. Art was revelation of the Ojibwe history. Art was getting ready for bed. I didn’t name it. I just knew it. I lived Norval Morrisseau’s art. My brother David and I sit solidly within the scope of Woodland Art – yet we are seen as different and alone.” Christian Morriseau
Christian was born on December 11, 1969 and raised in Red Lake, Ontario. He is the youngest of Seven Children of the renowned Woodland Artist, Norval Morrisseau. He now currently lives between Thunder Bay and Keewaywin First Nation, Ontario. The signing of the Treaty 5 adhesion in 1910 established the Sandy Lake reserve across the water. But some families felt left out of the community life there.
It was decided to return to their traditional lands, where they used to set up their trap line to catch fur-bearing animals.
They named this new place Keewaywin, which means “going home” in Oji-Cree, the language spoken here. “They wanted that feeling of just being home,” say Joe Meekis, a form Keewaywin chief who is now a band councillor, recounting the local lore. “They were lonely for the land.”
Christian is an accomplished artist in his own right. His love of the style of art was traditionally passed down to him by his father, Norval, who in turn learned from his grandfather, Potan. Potan was a well-known and respected traditional Shaman. Christian spent four months learning and listening to his father’s teachings and began painting in May 2002. He wanted to celebrate his gift and keep the Morrisseau’s family traditions and stories alive.
Christian paints in the Woodland style, which was developed by his father Norval upon receiving a vision instructing him to do so. Today there are well over 400 followers including Christian that paint in the Woodland style. Christian paints his animal images, landscape, his father and children, his tradition, his legends.
Christian is a devout student of his father’s art yet continues to develop his artistic gifts with intensity, discipline, and passion. This passion and devotion are reflected in the success of his pieces, which sell well in many markets and are widely accepted by art lovers. Christian has donated works to charitable organizations including; youth organization, diabetes organizations, to the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation ‘Treaty 9’ where Christian is from, the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and The Outdoor Writers of Canada.
Christian also teaches the Woodland art style to both native and non-native students in Thunder Bay and across other northwestern Ontario communities. Christian Morrisseau’s work can be found throughout both internationally and throughout Canada.
Christian has also suffered a great tragedy, Kyle Morrisseau is one of seven students from remote First Nations who died while attending school in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2014. Their deaths are the subject of one of the largest inquests in Ontario’s history.
Kyle’s father, Christian Morrisseau told the CBC News program the fifth estate that Kyle had started painting shortly after his grandfather, Norval Morrisseau died in 2007.
“His art was really progressing a lot faster than I would have ever imagined,” Morrisseau said. Kyle Morrisseau was last seen on Oct. 26, 2009 by classmates on the banks of the McIntyre Rive in Thunder Bay. His body was pulled from the river on Nov. 10.
Morrisseau was the third student from Keewaywin to die during the course of three years, truly a tragic loss in a community numbering 300 residents.
Recent Sale: Title: Grandfather Teaching, Acrylic on Canvas, 28 x 39, Sold July 10, 2016, $1660.00
June 24th, 2016 – Christian Morrisseau -“The Teacher” – Acrylic on Canvas – Signed in Syllabics – Hand Signed on The Lower Right Hand Corner – Titled & Dated 2016 Verso – 30″ x 32” Hammer Price: $1750.00
Norval Morriseau – Artist, Storyteller and Picasso of the North