Collection: Daphne Odjig

Daphne Odjig (1919-2016) was a greatly celebrated Indigenous painter and printmaker. Her vibrant aesthetic combined fluid gestures with bold use of colour and graphic black outlines typical of the Woodland painting style, and explored subjects including colonial history, family, and nature. In 1992, Odjig worked with Open Studio to produce her Love Series screenprints: Awakening, Memories, Companions, and New Love.

Odjig was a founding member of the 1970s collective Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. who advocated for the representation of Indigenous artists in the Canadian art world. Her work is held in collections including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; and Lethbridge Art Collection. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1986 and was awarded a Governor General’s Award in 2007.