Pen Morrison
Artist Statement
I consider bringing light to the unseen in order to challenge a viewer’s perception to be my primary function as an artist. Modern society has a lot of preconceived ideas about value, usefulness and age. In response to this, my artwork addresses the life-cycles of objects and nature. Through the use of discarded objects my work stresses the importance of being able to see anew what was previously taken for granted.
At the Visual Art Studies program at the University of Florida, my graphic design teacher told us “If there isn’t an idea behind the work, it is irrelevant.”
My 3-D Design teacher challenged us by saying “Everything has been done before.” Instructor Jerry Uelsmann was also a strong influence, as he has been a pioneer in using collage within photography. Later influences have been George Braque, Robert Rauschenberg, Louise Nevelson, more recently Joaquin Torres-Garcia. Education BA in Art, Visual Studies and Graphic Design; University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Commissions
“If You Steal My Chickens, You Can’t Make ‘em Lay.”, is a tribute to musician Lightnin’ Hopkins, commissioned by Whole Foods Market June 2011, and hangs in their Montrose store in Houston.
Many other personal commissions, 1995 - ongoing.
Exhibitions Group Show
“The Street: 21st Century History Museum”, Lawndale 1986;
ADCH Art Auctions 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995;
Group Show, “Fence Sentry; A Sculpture Show”, Feb. 26, 2000;
Group Show, AIGA “Loud and Clear - Texas Music Looks Like This”, Vine Street Studios, Nov. 15, 2003;
Diverse Works “Luck of the Draw” 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016;
Group Shows at Art Car Museum’s “Face” 2005, “Bone” 2006, “Texas Green” 2008, “Planes, Trains, Cars, and Bikes” 2009, “Good Gulf” 2010, “Reconstruction” 2011, “God” 2012, “All Lives Matter” 2016;
Group Show, “Sketchy Neighbors The Polyphonic Art Score”, Record Ranch Gallery, Houston 2009;
Lawndale Art Center Annual “Day of the Dead” 1997, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016;
The Sketchbook Project, 2011: Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY;
The Houston International Festival 2012, winner Best Artists’ Booth;
Lawndale Art Center “The Big Show” 2012 & 2015;
Solo show “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer: Guitar Art by Pen Morrison” at Record Ranch inside Cactus Music, March 2 - April 15, 2013;
7th & 8th Annual Winter Holiday Art Markets (WHAM), 2012 & 2013;
Solo show “Don’t Run Dry- Lyric Art by Pen Morrison” at Record Ranch inside Cactus Music, Aug. 29- Sept. 30, 2015;
Group show “True Blue, Texas Blues in Art” at Houston Blues Museum, Oct. 16 - Dec. 19, 2015;
Participant in the “Armadillo Christmas Bazaar” in Austin, Texas, a 41 year old juried art market, Dec. 14 - 24, 2016 & 2017.
Publications
“Sneak Peek at Whole Foods Montrose”, by Katherine Shilcutt, Houston Press, June 2011.
#25 “Art and Culture at the New Whole Foods Market in Montrose” by Lauren Marmaduke, Houston Press, June 20, 2011.
“Local Artist Pen Morrison Celebrates Guitar Pickers and Their Guitars”, by William Michael Smith, Houston Press, April 27, 2012.
“The Many Faces of ‘God’ on Display at Whimsical Art Car Museum Exhibition” by William Michael Smith, Houston Press, Sept. 28, 2012.
“Christmas Comes Early: WHAM is Here” by Abby Koenig, Houston Press, Nov. 15, 2012.
“Pen Morrison: A Different Kind of Tribute Artist” by Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, Feb. 26, 2013.
“Meet Your Maker Monday: Pen Morrison”, by Alex Barber, Houston Makerspace, March 10, 2014.
“New Artist Spotlight: Pen Morrison”, by Renée Rice, Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Blog, Dec. 7, 2016.
