Born on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation in Grand Marais, Minnesota, George Morrison graduated from the Minnesota School of Art (now the Minneapolis College of Art and Design) and received scholarships to study in New York City and Paris.  Though well known for his wood collage landscapes, Morrison considered himself primarily a painter.  By combining the loose and emotional style of the Abstract Expressionists with the linear patterns and fragmented surfaces associated with Cubism, Morrison created a style that was all his own.   Wanting to be seen simply as an American artist, he challenged the notion that Native American artists must create traditional “Indian” works demanded by the art market.  Morrison’s desire to experiment with modern methods and styles helped him become one of the first Native Americans to break into the New York art scene.