To say that Stephen Morrison‘s work is inspired by dogs would be an understatement. Through sculptural assemblages and paintings of puppy faces hidden in leaves or morphing into household items, Morrison evokes the timeless love for our pets.
“I think I’ve always been a bit of a bon vivant and I like to live a dog’s life and do what you want, when you want,” Morrison said recently. Hyperallergic in one interview. “That’s why working with dogs feels so natural, because it’s deeply ingrained in my character.”
Morrison also draws inspiration from his beloved pit bull mix, Tilly, who was the ring bearer at his wedding and died three years ago. Her curious face lives on in the artist’s idiosyncratic compositions, bringing everything expressively to life, from birdhouses to table lamps.
In the artist’s upcoming solo exhibition in Hashimoto contemporaryMorrison continues to channel dog personalities Dog Show #4: House Broken.
Trompe l’œil paintings show the supports on the backs of canvases, full of vegetable elements, stuffed animals, magazine clippings and fruit. Similarly, a series of sculptures made from epoxy clay, resin, paper and oil paint resemble assemblages of seemingly disparate items.
For example, in “Clump Spirit #5 (Study)” a puppy’s face emerges from the front of a violin hanging on a hook, and “Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room)” shows a happy dog on a TV screen, stacked high with other objects that also have distinctive eyes and snouts. Everything appears in a state of joyful but barely controlled disorder.
“This show reflects on the chaotic messiness of family life, inspired by the vibrant and dysfunctional environment I grew up in,” says Morrison. “Our house was filled with dancing, yelling, messy crafting, and a constant swirl of half-finished projects. Amid all the noise, there was a strange harmony – moments when the chaos seemed to hum along just right, as if the disorder itself had a rhythm.
Dog Show #4: House Broken runs from January 18 to February 8 in New York City. Find more information about the artist website And Instagram.
