“Professional Native Indian Artists Inc.” opens in Lac La Biche

The grand opening of a new permanent collection at The Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art & Artifacts in Lac La Biche marks the museum’s 40th anniversary. Professional Native Indian Artists Inc., features works from PNIAI (also known as the Indian Group of Seven): Daphne Odjig, Alex Janvier, Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Carl Ray, Joseph Sanchez and Norval Morrisseau. The collection highlights the contributions of the group, which paved the way for other First Nations artists. It also gives viewers insight into how the group has changed the landscape of Canadian art, most notably how people conceptualize and perceive Indigenous art.

Read the ACI art book Norval Morrisseau: Life & Work by Carmen Robertson to learn more about one of the key figures in contemporary Indigenous art.

Discover how his work influenced Saulteaux artist Robert Houle, who was inspired by Morrisseau after seeing the PNIAI’s 1975 exhibition Colours of Pride: Paintings by Seven Professional Native Artists at the Dominion Gallery in Montreal.