Indigenous Art at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
After a successful and critically acclaimed tour with exhibitions in the U.S. as well as Quebec City, Early Days: Indigenous Art at the McMichael returns to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection this September. From historic ceremonial pieces to contemporary art, this unique exhibition showcases the depth, beauty and importance of Indigenous art in Canada with more than 100 works from the McMichael’s permanent collection. The exhibition will run from September 20, 2025, to Spring 2026.
Organized in close collaboration with Indigenous artists, scholars and knowledge keepers, the exhibition showcases works that span two centuries, including painting, sculpture, textiles, carvings, photography and more. Curated by Sarah Milroy, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Early Days exhibition features work by renowned Indigenous artists including Norval Morrisseau, Robert Houle, Carl Beam, Alex Janvier, Shelley Niro, Faye HeavyShield, Kent Monkman, Rebecca Belmore, Meryl McMaster, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun and others.
“The McMichael has been at the forefront of collecting Indigenous art for over 70 years, dating back to the 1950’s when Robert and Signe McMichael began collecting Indigenous artwork from important artists early in their careers,” said John Geoghegan, Associate Curator, Collections and Research at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. “There are many works from some of the most highly regarded artists, some of which are very personal, while others speak to more universal themes. I think people may be surprised by the work they see. The exhibition does not attempt to show just one way Indigenous artists work but the various media, techniques, and themes that artists have used.”
According to the gallery website, Early Days: Indigenous Art at the McMichael, showcases the evolving story of Indigenous art in Canada while inviting reflection on our relationships to land, to ancestors, to one another, while confronting the complex tensions between past and present.
Geoghegan talks about some of the works in the expansive collection, including a Gitxsan mask which was donated by the Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson in 1969.
“This mask is important because it shows the complexity of the collection and who was acquiring them. Some of the earliest works include a set of late 18th century regalia which were given as an act of cultural diplomacy including garments such as sashes, belts, hair ties, beaded bags, and everything from highly utilitarian objects through to masks and rattles used in ceremonies by various nations. We also have 19th century trade goods such as carved jewellery and argillite totem poles through to the emergence of easel paintings, print making and more.”
The Early Days exhibition originally launched at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in 2020 to 2021 to limited audiences due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This re-presented exhibition has been expanded to include new pieces that are on view for the first time.
“After the show closed, Chief Curator Sarah Milroy took the opportunity to create an important publication (Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael) to mark the Indigenous collection at McMichael,” said Geoghegan. “I was brought on as a Co-Editor of that publication, alongside Co-Editor Bonnie Devine, who is an Anishinaabe artist, writer and historian. The award-winning catalogue is fully illustrated showcasing over 200 works of art and 70 essays. About 90 per cent of the writers are Indigenous so we were able to capture an important perspective to the objects in our collection which was of key importance to us at the McMichael.”
The exhibition’s recent tour included stops at museums in the U.S. along with a show at the Musée national des beaux-arts in Quebec City.
“The response has been fantastic everywhere the show has been seen,” said Geoghegan.
Geoghegan’s three stand-out works in the Early Days exhibition:
“A Kumugwe mask by Kwak’wakawakw hereditary Chief Bob Harris which was purchased in 1977. Harris is an extraordinary carver from Knight Inlet in British Columbia and his work has a tremendous amount of visual power. The opportunity to see a traditional ceremonial mask such as this is quite rare in Ontario.”
“A painting by Norval Morrisseau called Shaman and Disciples from 1979. It was painted at the McMichael in 1979 when Morrisseau was an Artist-in-Residence here. It’s very large acrylic on canvas that’s over two metres wide and depicts the Shaman wearing the traditional hat and surrounded by two apprentices and is painted in a beautiful prismatic palette.”
“The Headdress-Shadae by artist Dana Claxton. A photo of this headdress adorns the cover of the Early Days catalogue. It’s a lightbox which is illuminated from behind, so it has this incredible glow and presence. The figure is life-sized, and her body is completely adorned with bead work and other ceremonial and decorative objects. I think really this is at the heart of Early Days with work that speaks to people on many levels at once. It’s important for people to understand the contributions that Indigenous people and Indigenous artists have made to this country. Whether you like historic things or learning about history, or if you are interested in up-to-the-minute art and looking at the issues of our time, this exhibition has something for everyone.”
For tickets to Early Days: Indigenous Art at the McMichael visit: mcmichael.com/event