James Morse American, b. 1982

View works. James Morse, New Seed, 2023, Oil on linen, 61 x 81.3 cm
James Morse, New Seed, 2023, Oil on linen, 61 x 81.3 cm
View works
James Morse utilises the language of land imagery to delve into the emotions stemming from reflections on our existence. For Morse, Landscape serves as a universally understood vocabulary across cultures, connecting us to the land, our source of nourishment and eventual return. Morse, eschewing photographs for on-site studies, crafts expressive landscape paitntings using only hand and eye. These works embrace the interpretive essence of being over the mechanical nature of seeing, composing a poetic language with landforms that is felt more than understood. 
 
Morse’s paintings seek to evoke emotions arising from the interaction with the landscape and seeks to harness intuitive reactions predating vocal language. A clear field induces calm, a secluded lake surrounded by trees offers a sense of safety, and the return of birds in spring alleviates the worry of endless winter. Mature trees afflicted by blight symbolise the cyclical process of growth, death, decomposition, and renewal. Morse's work prompts contemplation of our inner selves through mirrored reflections on water surfaces.
 
Unlike a photograph's descriptive nature, Morse's intention is not to depict scenery but to create a visual record of thought, feeling, and response to the world on canvas. The passage of time is evident in meticulous mark-making, revealing the artist's presence in the world. These emotional metaphor objects, not reproductions of perceived beauty, showcase the artist's struggle to understand the space we inhabit. Evidence of geometric grids, modified compositions, colour choices, and the patina of thought and craftsmanship speak to the artist's contemplation of existence within a consciously detached world. In essence, the paintings document the world's contemplation of the artist as much as the artist's contemplation of the world—they are inseparable.
 

James Morse (b. 1982 Hinsdale, Illinois, US. Lives and works in Northport, Michigan, US) has had solo exhibitions at Cob Gallery, London, UK and Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, US. Morse’s work has been included in group exhibitions at 1969 Gallery, New York, US; James Cohan Gallery, New York, US; Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain; Scroll Gallery, New York, US; Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, US; David Zwirner Platform, Online, New York, (2022); Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan, US (2022); Painters Painting Paintings, London, UK (2021) and Hesse Flatow Gallery, New York, US.

 

EDUCATION

2011 MFA, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, USA

2005 BA, Hope College, Holland, MI, USA

2003 BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, USA

 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024 The Hands That Comb The Hills, Cob Gallery, London, UK

2023 Online, Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, USA

2022 Because There Are Stars, Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA

2021 Eastfield, Online, Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA

2020 Looking at Leelanau, Cook's House, Traverse City, Michigan, USA

2020 One Hundred Acres, Virtual studio show, Northport, Michigan, USA

2019 Geese Returning, Cook's House, Traverse City, Michigan, USA

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025 In Tandem, Cob Gallery, London, UK (forthcoming)

2024 The remains of the day, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain

2024 Art at Kings Oaks, Kings Oaks, Newtown, USA

2024 Arcadia & Elsewhere, James Cohan Gallery, New York, New York, USA

2024 Three Person Show, Scroll Gallery, New York, New York, USA 

2023 New Landscapes, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain

2023 Pocket Universe, Philip Martin Gallery, LA, California, USA

2022 David Zwirner Platform, October monthly edit, Online, New York, New York, USA

2022 Harvest Moon, Leelanau Conservancy, Leland, Michigan, USA

2022 Art Leelanau, Old Art Building, Leland, Michigan, USA

2022 Night Painting, Philip Martin Gallery, LA, California, USA

2022 Necessity, Galleri Magnus Karlsson, Stockholm, Sweden

2021 PPP on Paper, Painters Painting Paintings, Online, London, UK

2021 Art Leelanau, Old Art Building, Leland, Michigan, USA

2021 Postcards at Hellvi Kännungs, Galleri Magnus Karlsson, Gotland, Sweden

2021 Shifted Horizon, Hesse Flatow Gallery, Chelsea, New York, New York, USA

2021 Angle of Repose, Poker Flats Gallery, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA

2021 From Morning Til Night, Never Rely on a Single Thing, Philip Martin Gallery, LA, California, USA

2020 Art Leelanau, Old Art Building, Leland, Michigan, USA

2019 New Paintings, Morsecraft Studio, Northport, Michigan, USA

2019 Art Leelanau, Old Art Building, Leland, Michigan, USA

2018 Irregular Symmetry of Pattern, Wright Gallery, Northport, Michigan, USA

2018 Juried Fine Arts Show, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, Michigan, USA