Bio
Lorne Alexander Julien is a proud Mi’kmaq artist and member of Millbrook First Nation, near Truro, Nova Scotia, where he grew up. His given Mi’kmaw name “Warrior on the Hill” was earned in his youth when he learned about the spiritual ways of his people. Lorne is a self taught artist, who has been following his passion since childhood.
In his practice he uses bright colours and is known for the bold beauty of his artwork that touches hearts.
Lorne’ s artwork is inspired by visions and dreams and the love and respect he holds for his people. His paintings have an uplifting hopeful energy. Lorne’s artist journey is a healing journey, a way to heal himself and inspire healing in the world.
Over the last few years, Lorne has painted many murals to support the creation of safe spaces in the public, in schools, government and private offices. Outdoor murals can be seen in Kentville on Main Street ,in the corner of Agricola and Willow street in Halifax and at the amphitheatre Oqwa’titek in Annapolis Royal. Lorne often uses the eagle, his favourite subject. The eagle is important to First Nation’s people as a symbol for love and protection. The paintings are like a prayer.
The paintings are popular with the rug hookers. The Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia commissioned Lorne to make a painting in response to the sad discoveries of remains of missing indigenous children around the former residential schools in Canada. The guild created a rug show “Every Child Matters” that has been travelling around Nova Scotia. Lorne’s art work revolves around family, healing journeys and connection. Connection between humans and the natural world.
His paintings have a simple and beautiful way of reminding us of hope and the spirit within all of creation. Lorne’s style can be seen as indigenous abstract painting and he uses acrylic paint in vibrant colours. Canvas can be anything from gallery stretched canvas, drums and walls to hockey sticks.
The Junior World Hockey Championship in 2022 commissioned Lorne to paint 20 hockey sticks. These were presented to the Most Valuable Player ( MVP) at the games. The Mi’kmaq in his area have deep roots in the game of hockey. His great grand father Chief Joseph Julien was a carver of hockey sticks in the early 1900’s and his grandfather was part of an “integrated “ hockey team around 1940s. Painting the hockey sticks, it felt like honouring his grandfathers and the Mi’kmaq people.
His designs are popular for logos, one of them created in 2019 for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq for their publication about matrimonial law. He also donated some of his images for the use in the Legal Aid report. His uplifting, heartfelt style and family oriented paintings have been used to create safe spaces in Family Resource Centers, hospitals and schools.
In 2015, Lorne donated a painting to the McMaster University Midwifery program in honour of his oldest daughter’s graduation as a midwife. In 2019 he was commissioned to create 2 paintings in honour of World Breastfeeding Week by the Family Resource Centre “ Maggie’s Place” in Truro. Lorne has also been traveling with his artwork to powwows, gatherings and conferences for many years. One of them the Indian Market organized by the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine.
His vivid style and clear lines translate very well into creating large murals. Some of his murals can be seen in Halifax on Agricola St and on Main Street in Kentville..
Lorne is constantly developing his practice, now becoming proficient in stained glass. These pieces further display his diverse love and talent for creating vibrantly colorful artworks.
Curriculum Vitae
Murals
2023 – IKEA
2023 – BIRD construction
2023 – Cove Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship2022 – ISANS Immigrant Services Association Nova Scotia (https://isans.ca/mural_by_lorne_julien_at_isans/)
2022 – Dalhousie University , Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, Truro
2022 – NSCC Middelton, Annapolis Valley Campus
2021 – Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, truro
2021 – Town of Annapolis Royal – Beyond Oqwa’titek
2021 – Ecology Action Centre – 50th anniversary / 50 things
2021 – Kentville Mural Festival
2020- Creation of a mural with students of East Hants Rural Highschool.
2019 – Mural at the PEI Veterinary College in Charlottetown
2018 – Mural “Seven Sacred Teachings/ Grandfather Teachings” with Students at North East Kings, Canning, NS.
Art Projects With Students
2022 – Kids painting At Kentville Mural Festival , NS
2022 – Art workshop at Ihsan Academy in Halifax, NS
2019 – Art presentation, talk and art lesson at Christian School Academy in Biblehill, Truro.
2018 – Art presentations with 6 classes at Clark Rutherford Elementary School in Cornwallis Park.
2019 – Contract with Art publisher – Indigenous Collection/Canadian Art Prints/Winn Devon Art Group
2019 – AFN in Frederiction, New Brunswick.
Public painting engagement
Design of Logo
2019 – Puktew Wasuek Trading Post.
2018 – Design of Nova Scotia Legal Aid logo for Indigenous Social Worker.
Solo Exhibitions
2022- Solo show at King’s theatre in Annapolis Royal
2022- Solo show ” Healing Journey ” at the ArtsPlace ( ARCAC) in Annapolis Royal NS
2019 – National Aboriginal Midwifery Conference.
2019 – NSCC McCarthy Hall Gallery , Truro.
2019 – Halifax Conference “Strengthening Indigenous Community Engagement: Pathways to Reconciliation”.
2018 – Bear River First Nation Powwow.
2018 and 2019 – Kentville Multicultural Market.
2018 and 2019 – Millbrook powwow.
2018 – Shelburne Art Market.
2018 – Millbrook Aboriginal Day/ Halifax Aboriginal Day.
2017 – Saint John Christmas Craft Fair.
2017 – Indigenious Business Conference in Frederiction.
2017 – Grand Pre Mi’kmaq/Acadian Friendship Powwow.
2017 – Indian Brook Powwow.
2015 to 2018 – Winding River Art Gallery, Stewiacke, Nova Scotia.
2016 – Art Show and Sale, Fort Calgary, Calgary.
2016 – First Nations Art, Woodland Cultural Centre, Branford, Ontario.
2015 – Present -Sipuke’l Gallery, Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
2015 – Aboriginal Pavilion, Pan American Games, Toronto, Ontario.
2015 – Eskasoni 21st Annual Pow Wow, Eskasoni, Nova Scotia.
2015 – Water is Key Exhibition, McCarthy Hall Art Gallery, NSCC, Truro, Nova Scotia.
2015 – Atlantic Aboriginal Post Secondary Education Conference, Mount St. Vincent University, Bedford, Nova Scotia.
2014 – Lunenburg Art Gallery. Lunenberg, Nova Scotia.
2014 – 2nd Annual Aboriginal Arts & Literature Mawiomi, Acadia University, Nova Scotia.
2014 – Art for Africa Fundraiser, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2014 – Environmental Racism Art Show, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2013 – Casino Halifax Exhibit, Halifax Nova Scotia.
2013 – 1st Annual Aboriginal Arts & Literature.
2013 – Aboriginal Art Festival. Wagmatcook Culture & Heritage Centre, Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia.
2013 – ALS Society of Nova Scotia Art show. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
2013 – Art Battle 67, The Loft. Truro, Nova Scotia.
2012 – First Nations Art, Woodland Cultural Centre, Branford, Ontario.
2011 – First Nations Art, Woodland Cultural Centre, Branford, Ontario.
2011 – Marigold Cultural Centre Solo Show. Truro, Nova Scotia.
2011 – Halifax International Pow Wow Exhibit, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2010 – Membertou 400, Mawiomi Halifax International Pow Wow, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2010 – Art show and sale. All Saints Anglican Church, Bedford, Nova Scotia.
Group Exhibitions
2022 – Chase Gallery , NS archives, Halifax NS
2022 – Gallery 215 in Maitland, NS
2019 – Indian Market, Bar Harbour, Maine USA.
2019 – Maritime Indigenous Artists exhibit at the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor.
2018 – Flight of Fancy Gallery in Bear River.
2018 – present Truro hospital corridor gallery.
2018 – Organization and participation of exhibit” Indigenous Artists in Atlantic Canada”in Truro at the McCarthy Hall Gallery.
2014 – Friends United Artists. Considering Aboriginal Rights Exhibition, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2014 – Friends United. Aboriginal Day Waterfront Exhibition, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2012 – Friends United Artists. Peoples Place Library Exhibit. St. FX University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
2012 – Friends United Art Exhibit. Halifax City Hall, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2010 – Brian Gazeley and Joseph Landry Art Show. Alderney Landing Cultural Centre, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Public Collections
Present – Super 8 Motel, art display. Millbrook, Nova Scotia.
2015 – Adsum for Women & Children Shelter. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2014 – Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association. Millbrook, Nova Scotia.
2010 – Saint Patrick Church Restoration.
Public Speaking
2022 – Ecology Action Centre celebration 50 year anniversary
2022- Workshop, presentation at NSCAD , Halifax NS about mural making
2022 – Every Child Matters Exhibit , Mount Saint Vincent, NS
2019 – National Aboriginal Midwifery Conference.
2019 – NS, Hooker’s Gilde AGM.
2014 – Aboriginal Art Festival. Wagmatcook & Heritage Centre, Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia.
Donation/use of images
2018 – Donated 5 images to use for annual Legal Aid Report.
Books
2015 – Personal Bio included in The wonder Walls- from the streets of Toronto. Author: Jason Parete. Publisher: Createspace.
2011 – Cover art work in Mi’kmaq Anthology Volume 2: In Celebration of the Life of Rita Joe. Edited by Leslie Choyce and Theresa Meuse.
2011- Cover art “Friends United Volume 1.” Edited by Rolf Bouman. (Ad) Venture Canada Publishing.
1997 – Cover art work in Mi’kmaq Anthology: Edited by Leslie Choyce and Rita Joe.
Publications & Media
2023 – Art Seen: Lorne Julien Healing Journey
2022 CBC on ISANS mural
2021- Interview with CBC news https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mi-kmaw-artist-lorne-julien-1.6280740
2019 – Commission piece for Confederacy of Mainland Mi ’kmaq “ Matrimonial Law”.
2019“Millbrook Artist creates painting to mark World Breast Feeding Week”
http://www.trurodaily.com/community/video-millbrook-artist-creates-painting-to-mark-world-breastfeeding-week-230937/
2015 – “Alumna’s father donates art to midwifery program.” McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences News magazine. Volume 9, Issue 1. http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/networkspring2015/first_nations_art_donation.html
2011 – “Exposing and challenging environmental racism.” Talking Radical Radio Show interview. October 15, 2014.
Environmental racism. Outreach video for ‘Time to clear the air.’ https://www.youtube.c/watch?v=LJ3gOvkUmI4
Glooscap Heritage Centre Art Show. APTN. Short Interview in Millbrook, Nova Scotia.
Grants & Rewards
2022- Artist of the year – Nova Scotia Indigenous Entreprise Network / NSITEN
2022- Canada Arts Council Grant – Painting Mi’kmaw Family History
2014 – Art in Bloom. McCarthy Hall Art Gallery, NSCC, Truro, Nova Scotia. 3rd place prize.
2014 – Truro Art Acquisition Show, Truro, NS. Honourable mention for painted hand drum.
Workshops
2011 – Emerging Artist Program by Joseph Landry and Brian Gazeley. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Membership
2023 ITAC Indigenous Tourism Associaion of Canada
2019- NSITEN Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Entreprise Network
2014 – Truro Arts Society of Nova Scotia.
2021- Carfac Halifax
2021- Annapolis Arts Council ( ARCAC)