Mark Anthony Jacobson is one of Canada’s most respected Aboriginal artists. He is a widely collected Shamanic artist of the Woodland Art Movement and is currently working and living in British Columbia.
Jacobson creates colourful woodland style artwork that is inspired by the stories, legends and traditions of the Ojibwe people. The relationships between animals, humanity and spirituality that includes traditional symbolism to carry powerful meaning within the subject matter of his paintings.
“ It is this language of the spirit that I try to communicate in the images, I create our relationships with the animals, with the birds, with the fish and all humanity. It is the experience of my ancestors that have inspired the stories and legends of the Ojibwe people”.
During his life journey, he would find a mentor in Norval Morrisseau, founder of the Woodland school. Jacobson was the last person to have a joint exhibition with the legendary Aboriginal artist in 2006, a member of the Order of Canada, who was known as the ”Picasso of the north”.
Norval Morrisseau founded the Woodlands style of painting, which revitalized traditional Ahnisnabae icons and has inspired three generations of artists and more.
In 2012, Jacobson received the American Moonbeam award for his children’s book “Ojibway Clans - Animal Totems and Spirits”. The following year, Jacobson designed the poster for Aboriginal Awareness Week in Montreal Canada.
Drawing traditional symbolism from within the subject matter of his aboriginal painting during his journey, Marc began to realize an energy of x-ray design was materializing in his native artwork. It was the visual language of life creation: The animals, the birds, the fish, the humanity, the energy of the spirit and all that there is in this beautiful universe.
Often introducing himself as “ Pay-sim-away-Spey-benasi”, which means “Rainbow Thunderbird” in the Ojibwe language, Mark explains: “My artistic talent is an ancestral right, given to the chosen ones by the Creator, and the old ones in the spirit world that seek to manifest their wisdom and experience through the young apprentices and disciples of the creative spirit. The ancestors see it all, what your heart is really driven by, not all native artists understand this language of the spirit. There is a responsibility in what you are creating. Some are driven by money, self-importance, ego and other selfish desires. This is not the way of our native ancestors, the great Ojibway”.
“We are about love, hope, faith, and charity. These are the principles of the spirit and the real purpose of why we are here. To live in harmony with all things is what we are intended to do, to see the oneness of the spirit in all things and in one another. That we all belong to the Creator and that we need to bring out the highest good in one another. This is why I am inspired to paint".
"We are medicine for each other. Now you can be good medicine, or bad medicine, it depends on your motives and desires. The duality of creation is always striving to reveal the oneness in all things. It is a beautiful process, whether you agree or not, it is the way it is. Where there is conflict, there is resolution, it is the nature of creation to teach us at all times”.
Mark Anthony Jacobson has been creating Native Art for nearly 40 years and he says that he is a continuous and willing student of the creator’s ways.
“ I love art, and I love being an instrument of creativity, channeling the medicine of my people, for the people. The history of my ancestors, the message of taking care of our environment and Creation are really important to me”.
"I’m also noted as an executive producer. I have done several limited editions of paintings over the last 3 decades including several projects with educational institutions as well."
"It is an honour to be Anishanabe (Ojibway heritage) through my mother’s bloodline Oskineegish from Eabametoong, Fort Hope First Nation. I honour my father's Swedish bloodlines by signing my paintings: Jacobson".
"I started selling art at the age of 13 and I’ve held over 30 exhibitions across Canada and internationally. I am regarded as a seasoned veteran in the art world and a master in the Woodland School of Art. I love my culture, I love art and I love the spirit of my people, the great Anishanabe, who live in the pure spiritual force of creation. The wisdom of our Mother Earth".
All my relations, MAJ.
Jacobson creates colourful woodland style artwork that is inspired by the stories, legends and traditions of the Ojibwe people. The relationships between animals, humanity and spirituality that includes traditional symbolism to carry powerful meaning within the subject matter of his paintings.
“ It is this language of the spirit that I try to communicate in the images, I create our relationships with the animals, with the birds, with the fish and all humanity. It is the experience of my ancestors that have inspired the stories and legends of the Ojibwe people”.
During his life journey, he would find a mentor in Norval Morrisseau, founder of the Woodland school. Jacobson was the last person to have a joint exhibition with the legendary Aboriginal artist in 2006, a member of the Order of Canada, who was known as the ”Picasso of the north”.
Norval Morrisseau founded the Woodlands style of painting, which revitalized traditional Ahnisnabae icons and has inspired three generations of artists and more.
In 2012, Jacobson received the American Moonbeam award for his children’s book “Ojibway Clans - Animal Totems and Spirits”. The following year, Jacobson designed the poster for Aboriginal Awareness Week in Montreal Canada.
Drawing traditional symbolism from within the subject matter of his aboriginal painting during his journey, Marc began to realize an energy of x-ray design was materializing in his native artwork. It was the visual language of life creation: The animals, the birds, the fish, the humanity, the energy of the spirit and all that there is in this beautiful universe.
Often introducing himself as “ Pay-sim-away-Spey-benasi”, which means “Rainbow Thunderbird” in the Ojibwe language, Mark explains: “My artistic talent is an ancestral right, given to the chosen ones by the Creator, and the old ones in the spirit world that seek to manifest their wisdom and experience through the young apprentices and disciples of the creative spirit. The ancestors see it all, what your heart is really driven by, not all native artists understand this language of the spirit. There is a responsibility in what you are creating. Some are driven by money, self-importance, ego and other selfish desires. This is not the way of our native ancestors, the great Ojibway”.
“We are about love, hope, faith, and charity. These are the principles of the spirit and the real purpose of why we are here. To live in harmony with all things is what we are intended to do, to see the oneness of the spirit in all things and in one another. That we all belong to the Creator and that we need to bring out the highest good in one another. This is why I am inspired to paint".
"We are medicine for each other. Now you can be good medicine, or bad medicine, it depends on your motives and desires. The duality of creation is always striving to reveal the oneness in all things. It is a beautiful process, whether you agree or not, it is the way it is. Where there is conflict, there is resolution, it is the nature of creation to teach us at all times”.
Mark Anthony Jacobson has been creating Native Art for nearly 40 years and he says that he is a continuous and willing student of the creator’s ways.
“ I love art, and I love being an instrument of creativity, channeling the medicine of my people, for the people. The history of my ancestors, the message of taking care of our environment and Creation are really important to me”.
"I’m also noted as an executive producer. I have done several limited editions of paintings over the last 3 decades including several projects with educational institutions as well."
"It is an honour to be Anishanabe (Ojibway heritage) through my mother’s bloodline Oskineegish from Eabametoong, Fort Hope First Nation. I honour my father's Swedish bloodlines by signing my paintings: Jacobson".
"I started selling art at the age of 13 and I’ve held over 30 exhibitions across Canada and internationally. I am regarded as a seasoned veteran in the art world and a master in the Woodland School of Art. I love my culture, I love art and I love the spirit of my people, the great Anishanabe, who live in the pure spiritual force of creation. The wisdom of our Mother Earth".
All my relations, MAJ.