I have been following Kristen Morgin's extraordinary work since 2005, when I first saw her decomposing, abandoned objects, a car and a piano, at the Hammer Museum (LA) in the game-changing sculptural exhibition titled, "The Thing." This monumental show moved the art world's focus directly to the young sculptors in Los Angeles ..... it was a game changer!!! At that time, I remember being told that Kristen was an art teacher at Cal Arts, Long Beach and that she had no desire to exhibit, nor sell her work ...... something that shocks all art collectors and dealers!!!!
She eventually changed her mind, exhibiting at the Marc Selwyn Gallery in Los Angeles ....... and now we are lucky enough to have her first New York exhibition as the inaugural show at the new home of the Zach Feuer Gallery, 548 West 22 St. in Chelsea!!!!
Kristen's true to scale objects are created primarily from unfired clay and paint. She recreates objects that appear to be abandoned, duplicating the images of "stuff" common to our universal experiences. I think the re-created decaying pieces or fragments are "childhood memories", uniting "then and now." The majority of the exhibition is a collection of easily accessible objects, once loved but now left behind ..... including comics, rocking horses, toys, books, and games. In addition, there is the "Wrecked Spyder", an abandoned crashed Porsche 550 Spyder that appears to be rotting as look on. The universal theme exhibited in Kristen's work .... fragility, mortality, and decay .... "each work simultaneously memorializes and destroys on impact the object it portrays."
This show is a stunning example of work by a "grown-up" artist ....
Kristen, thank you for finally coming to New York ..... we promise to be nice!!!
And kudo's to Zach for a unique exhibition in his new space!!!!
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