Stephen Morrison’s artwork doesn’t just feature dogs—it is a celebration of them. Through a mix of intricate paintings and whimsical sculptural pieces, Morrison captures the playful and endearing nature of our canine companions, incorporating their personalities into his art in deeply meaningful ways.
In a recent interview with Hyperallergic, Morrison shared his connection to the carefree life of dogs: “I think I’ve always been a bit of a hedonist and kind of set up to love the life of a dog, of doing whatever you want when you want to do it,” he explained. His affection for dogs, especially his late pit bull mix, Tilly, runs deep, with Tilly even having played the role of ring bearer at his wedding. Her spirit continues to influence his work, as she lives on in the playful and expressive dog faces that populate his pieces.
Morrison’s forthcoming exhibition, Dog Show #4: House Broken, at Hashimoto Contemporary, is a continuation of this canine-inspired exploration. His trompe-l’œil paintings bring the charm of dogs to life through unexpected mediums. In these pieces, canvas supports themselves come to life, covered in vibrant depictions of plants, stuffed animals, fruit, and even magazine clippings. One such painting, Every Direction at Once (2025), features a broken houseplant with a dog’s face etched into its pot—an example of Morrison’s signature combination of realism and whimsy.
Alongside these paintings, Morrison presents a series of sculptures made from an eclectic mix of materials, including epoxy clay, resin, paper, and oil paint. In Clump Spirit #5 (Study), a puppy’s face emerges from a violin hanging on a hook, while Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room) features a cheerful dog on a TV screen, surrounded by a chaotic pile of objects, each with its own distinct expression.
Reflecting on the themes in his work, Morrison describes the exhibit as a nod to the “chaotic messiness of home life.” Drawing inspiration from his own upbringing, which he describes as “filled with dancing, yelling, slapdash crafting, and a constant swirl of half-finished projects,” he highlights the way disorder can bring its own unique harmony. “Amid all the noise, there was an odd harmony—moments where the chaos seemed to hum along just right, as if disorder itself had a rhythm,” he says.
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