In Good Company: Artists Showcased in our Herstory Exhibition.

Daphne Odjig,(1919-)

Nanabajou and his Daughter 1975

silkscreen 4/60 118x77.5 cm

Collection of The University of Winnipeg

Gift of Frank and Sue Hechter

Photo: Larry Glawson

An Ojibwa of the Potwatomi Nation, Daphne Odjig was born and raised on the Wikwemikong First Nation of Manitoulin Island, Ontario. From 1963 until 1976, she lived and worked in northern Manitoba and in Winnipeg. An accomplished artist in her own right, Odjig has done much to promote recognition of contemporary First Nations art across the country and internationally: in 1970 she founded Indian Prints of Canada to market reproductions of Aboriginal art and, in 1974, she opened the Warehouse Gallery (now known as the Wah-Sa Gallery) to exhibit the work of First Nations artists. In 1973 Odjig, along with fellow artists Jackson Beardy, Eddy Cobiness, Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray and Joseph Sanchez, founded the Professional Native Indian Artists Incorporation (popularly referred to as the "Indian Group of Seven") to support one another's artistic careers, establish sources of funding for other artists and inspire younger generations to celebrate being aboriginal. 

You can view this work and others in the exhibition Herstory: Art by Women in The University of Winnipeg Collection on now till April 6th, 2013 at Gallery 1C03.

Stay tuned for another featured women artist from the Herstory exhibition!