Untitled (Sexual Shaman) 1992

This acrylic on canvas painting called 'Untitled (Sexual Shaman)' is by Norval Morrisseau. The way Morrisseau lays down these colours, it’s like he’s composing directly onto the canvas, with no safety net. It’s confident and raw, and that’s exciting. Looking closely, you see how the bright palette and strong outlines create a vibrant, almost electric energy. The paint is applied quite flatly, and there's not a lot of blending, it’s like he’s building up the image with distinct blocks of colour, pinks, greens, reds, purples. Notice those swirling lines within the figures; they’re like pathways, maybe representing energy flow, transformation, and all sorts of other things! It reminds me of work by artists like Alfred Jensen, who also used geometric forms and bright colors to explore spiritual and metaphysical ideas. Ultimately, Morrisseau’s painting invites us to embrace uncertainty, to find beauty in the unresolved, and to recognize that art, at its best, opens up spaces for possibility and change.