Lost 22-Foot Norval Morrisseau Masterpiece Unveiled After 40 Years

Exhibition Details and Public Unveiling

The painting is on loan from EA Studios Calgary and will be unveiled on September 18, 2026, running as part of the “Morrisseau Masterwork” exhibition through January 3, 2027, according to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Spanning an astonishing 22 feet in length and 10 feet in height, the raw canvas travelled to Thunder Bay in a rolled format. The large-scale Woodland Style mural depicts a gathering of human figures—including adults and children—alongside animals, birds, and spiritual beings within a natural setting, accompanied by an interpretive panel featuring family photographs and ephemera related to its creation, as detailed by the gallery.

Historical Context and Family Patronage

Norval Morrisseau painted the large-scale work for Galal Helmy while living and working in a studio above the family’s tea house in Jasper, according to EA Studios Director Joseph Helmy. EA Studios Calgary was founded by Galal Helmy in 1973 and operated out of the Maligne Canyon Tea House from 1978 to 2018. During the mid-1980s, Morrisseau resided above the tea house, where what began as patronage between Norval and Galal Helmy evolved into a genuine friendship. The painting remained in the family’s care before returning to public view near the artist’s home territory.

Legacy of the Mishomis of Contemporary Indigenous Art

Norval Morrisseau is widely regarded as the “Mishomis” or grandfather of contemporary Indigenous art in Canada, according to Thunder Bay Art Gallery Executive Director Matthew R. Hills. Hills noted that Morrisseau’s impact on Canadian and international art is tremendous, making the return of the epic work particularly fitting given the gallery’s longstanding stewardship of his artistic legacy and proximity to his birthplace.