James Robert Morrison

From cigarette paper drawings to embroidered installations inspired by gay porn, James Robert Morrison uses a variety of mediums to reflect on the experience of discovering his sexuality and his journey to understanding, accepting and valuing it. His highly personal subject matter, expressed with honesty and openness, allows James to present his work with a truly singular voice.

Queer Visibility

Wide-ranging in scope, James’ abstract and figurative artworks show his playful approach to media, whilst maintaining a sense of thematic cohesion. The intimate subject matter, combined with repurposed personal archival material, allows James to present work which has a touching and nostalgic narrative, normalises non-heteronormative identities and, importantly, starts to fill the void of positive queer representation and visibility, that he, and so many other members of the queer community, did not experience during their formative years.

James Robert Morrison’s Early Career

After graduating in 2002 with an MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins, James worked for a central London commercial art gallery for three years. Following this, he spent 14 years working for the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Arts Council England, and the UK Government Art Collection. In January 2019, after a 17-year break, James returned to the studio to continue his art practice in London.

Exhibitions and Commendations

Since returning to the studio, he has been shortlisted for the Derwent Art Prize (2022), won the Mervyn Metcalf Purchase Prize at the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition (2021), been selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2021) and awarded a special commendation at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize (2020). His work is held in the UK Government Art Collection and private collections in the UK, USA and China.