OPP to Announce Results of Fraud Investigation into Faked Norval Morrisseau Artworks

Uncover the inspiring journey of Norval Morrisseau, a trailblazing artist whose passion for social justice and cultural preservation led him to become a prominent Indigenous rights advocate. Dive into the vibrant world of the Woodland School of Art and witness how Morrisseau's powerful paintings and advocacy efforts helped bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, leaving a profound and lasting legacy.

Norval Morrisseau is a renowned Canadian Indigenous artist known for his vibrant and innovative artwork that portrays Indigenous people's cultural and spiritual heritage. He was born on March 14, 1932, in the Sandy Point First Nation Reserve, Ontario, Canada. Morrisseau is widely regarded as the founder of the Woodland School of Art, a style of art emphasising bold lines and vibrant colours. He is also known as the "Picasso of the North," a nickname that reflects his immense talent and impact on Indigenous art.

The results of a major art fraud investigation into works illegally made and sold as those of distinguished painter Norval Morrisseau will be announced Friday by the OPP. A media conference is set for 10 a.m., in Orillia, to reveal details of the probe that involved both the OPP and Thunder Bay Police Service. Norval Morrisseau was a renowned Ojibwa artist who pioneered the bold, bright Woodland style. He was an influential figure in the contemporary Indigenous art movement in Canada. In 1978, Morrisseau was made a member of the Order of Canada and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He died in 2007 and was honoured with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award during the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Awards (now Indspire) show in 2008. Plagiarism of Morisseau’s work has been an ongoing problem. In 2020, TVO aired the documentary “There Are No Fakes” about how Canadian musician Kevin Hearn, of the Barenaked Ladies, was caught in a legal battle after he bought a Morrisseau painting he believes to be fake from a Toronto gallery.