Joel Morrison


Joel Morrison is an American sculptor based in Los Angeles. He is best known for his composite sculpture, often constructed from found objects that are cast in fiberglass or high-polish stainless steel re-defining what conceptual art looks like.

Early life and education

Morrison was born in Seattle, Washington. He received a BA in English Literature from Central Washington University and his MFA in sculpture from Claremont Graduate University in California.

Work

Morrison’s sculpture draws upon art historical reference and popular culture. Pairing quotations from various genres of art with common items and detritus – plastic bottles, weather balloons, plaster busts, shopping carts, light bulbs and bubble wrap – he reorients objects from everyday life by integrating them into themes of Pop, Surrealism and Classicism. Morrison uses a myriad of technical processes to create cast stainless steel sculptures with bright, high polished surfaces that reflect the object's surroundings.

Career

Morrison’s work has been exhibited internationally and is included in numerous public and private collections worldwide.
In 2006, he was a featured artist in the California Biennial] held at the Orange County Museum of Art, as well as a participant in the critically acclaimed Exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. In 2010, he was featured in at the . His numerous other group and solo exhibitions have been at venues throughout the world including the , Berlin; , Berlin; and Santa Monica Museum of Art. Almine Rech Gallery in Brussels hosted a solo exhibition or Morrison's work in 2012. Gagosian Gallery held solo exhibitions of Morrison's work in Beverly Hills, New York at Madison Avenue, and Hong Kong.

Exhibition history

2018 Joel Morrison: The Center of the Universe Alon Segev Gallery, Tel Aviv
2017 Joel Morrison, Reflex Amsterdam, Amsterdam http://www.reflexamsterdam.com
2016 Joel Morrison,The Side Effects of Thinking with a Minimal Glock, Alon Segev gallery, Tel Aviv.
2015
2014
2012
Joel Morrison, Gagosian Gallery, Hong Kong;
2011
Joel Morrison, Gagosian Gallery, New York.
2010
2008
Circus, Gagosian Gallery, Beverly Hills.
2006
Free Plastic Surgery, Gallery Michael Schultz, Berlin.
2005
Gallery Schultz Contemporary, Berlin.
2004
New Works, Griffin Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA;
Lemmy Kilmister's Mole, Art Forum Berlin.
2003
Project Room, Santa Monica Museum of Art, CA.
Cologne Sculptor, Art Cologne, Germany;
ACE International, ACE Gallery, New York;
Santa Monica Museum of Art, CA;
Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA.
2002
Heads and Torsos, ACE Gallery, Los Angeles; ACE Gallery, New York.
2001
Sketches, ACE Gallery, Los Angeles;
In Search of the Big Bulbous Bully, East Gallery, Claremont Graduate