Russell Noganosh (Ojibwe/Anishinaabe, b. 1956) - U

Updated September 18, 2026

Russell Noganosh (Ojibwe/Anishinaabe, b. 1956), Untitled (Eagle and Animal Forms), undated. Original acrylic on natural birch bark mounted on plywood, signed “Noganosh” at lower right. Overall dimensions approximately 20 x 15 1/2 inches.<br><br>A visually commanding original work by Canadian Indigenous artist Russell Noganosh, distinguished by its direct execution on natural birch bark and its layered imagery of eagle and animal forms. Set against an exceptionally vivid field of turquoise blue, the composition is dominated by a monumental dark avian form rising upward in profile, its hooked beak and crest-like silhouette giving the figure an unmistakable eagle-like presence. Within and across the larger body appear additional red, ochre, green and brilliant blue animal forms, creating a densely interconnected composition in which individual creatures seem to emerge from, overlap with, and inhabit one another.<br><br>This integration of multiple beings into a single pictorial structure gives the painting much of its visual power. Rather than functioning as isolated representations, the animals appear interconnected and transformational, encouraging a reading informed by relationships between the natural, animal and spiritual worlds. The imagery is especially compelling for collectors of Anishinaabe and Canadian Indigenous art, where animals, transformation, interconnectedness and the natural world constitute enduring areas of artistic exploration.<br><br>Noganosh's treatment of the surface is equally important. Broad passages of black and deep green are animated by mottled and textured applications of pigment, while the intensely saturated blue ground provides a dramatic chromatic counterpoint. Red, ochre and turquoise forms emerge from the darker central mass with an almost emblematic clarity, creating a composition that is simultaneously bold at a distance and increasingly complex upon closer inspection.<br><br>The birch bark support materially elevates the character of the work. Its warm natural coloration, knots, grain, fissures and irregular perimeter remain fully visible around the painted field, ensuring that the support participates actively in the composition rather than serving merely as a neutral ground. The juxtaposition of brilliant acrylic pigment against the organic surface of the bark gives the painting a particularly tactile presence and distinguishes it from more conventional works executed on paper or canvas.<br><br>As an original, signed work executed directly upon birch bark, the painting possesses a singular object quality particularly attractive within the market for Canadian Indigenous and First Nations art. Its combination of Russell Noganosh authorship, recognizable eagle imagery, interconnected animal forms, strong colour, natural-material support and substantial 20-inch scale gives the work immediate decorative presence while retaining the intimacy and physical individuality inherent to handmade birch-bark works.<br><br

Register & bid on this lot at Bidspirit →

More lots in this auction

• Victor Zag's "The Religious Man" Original Judaica
• Karl Burrows' "Shaman Rides Thunderbird" Original
• Victor Zag's "Tallit" Original Judaica
• Charles-Francois Daubigny's "Going To Work" Origin
• Frank Ryan Original Hand Carved Duck Decoy
• Peter Max's "The Better World" Limited Edition Pri
• Frank Meisler Israel "Sitting Camel" D290 Articula
• Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings NHL Signed Jersey

See all lots in October Art & Collectibles- 2-DAY Auction →