Biography

Daphne Odjig (1919–2016) was a groundbreaking Indigenous artist whose work helped reshape the course of Canadian art. Born on the Wikwemikong Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, she was of Odawa, Potawatomi, and English heritage. Her earliest artistic influence came from her grandfather, Jonas Odjig, a tombstone carver who taught her to draw and paint. From these beginnings, Odjig developed a visual language that was unmistakably her own—one rooted in storytelling, lived experience, and a deep commitment to Indigenous presence and continuity. She was later named a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her contribution to Canadian art.

Over the course of her career, Odjig combined Indigenous imagery and worldview with Cubist and Surrealist influences, creating richly structured compositions marked by curving contours, strong outlines, overlapping forms, and extraordinary colour. Her work addressed family, spirituality, colonization, the displacement of Indigenous peoples, and the experiences of Indigenous women and children. In 1973, she became a founding member of the Professional Native Indian Artists Association (PNAIA), often called the Indian Group of Seven, and in 1974 opened the first gallery in Canada devoted exclusively to First Nations artists. Through both her art and advocacy, Odjig became one of the most important voices in contemporary Indigenous art in Canada.