Shatto Gallery is pleased to present While I’m Away, an exhibition of new works by multi-disciplinary artist, Rocky Morton.

Known primarily for his work in filmmaking, Morton makes a striking return to his roots in painting, exploring the depths of human experience through his unique artistic lens.

 

Drawing from his deep fascination with science and the essence of humanity, Morton’s latest works stand apart, in their inspiration and innovative creation process. Employing a fresh approach, Morton uses a leaf blower to propel strings of paint—mixed with a unique elastic ingredient—across the canvas. This technique results in delicate, thread-like patterns, reminiscent of mycelium, the fungal networks that connect all living plants and trees, bringing a touch of nature’s unpredictability into his art.

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“Morton finds beauty in division – his colored paintings thrill with outpourings of intense hues, all assigned to their own regions yet struggling to oppose and at the same time embrace, even merge with, one another” - says Peter Frank, art critic and curator.

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At the heart of While I’m Away is the theme of universal connection. Morton’s paintings seek to transcend the familiar, venturing into uncharted territory, where the tangible world meets the infinite. Some pieces present literal interpretations, horizons where existence seems to emerge from nothingness, while others evoke the complex interconnectedness of the universe, akin to the synapses in the brain or fields of energy reminiscent of string theory.

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While I’m Away will be on display at Shatto Gallery from November 2 to December 7, offering art enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience Morton’s visionary work firsthand. The work will be amplified by a natural soundscape.

 

The sound in the gallery heard with Rocky Morton’s “While I’m Away” is  “The Long and the Short of It”  composed by Daniel Rothman,  and long-term bioacoustic recordings  made at the Ballona freshwater marsh by Daniel Rothman.

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“ My paintings are more than visual experiences—they are deep dives into the human psyche, born from meditation and spiritual introspection. “ – Rocky Morton

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Rocky Morton (1955) is an English-born, American-based artist known for his work as a painter and filmmaker. His pieces are part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. He attended Southampton School of Art in the 1970s and transferred to West Surrey College of Art and Design, where he studied animation. He has been awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes over nine times, and earned accolades such as Cannes Lions, British D&AD, Clios, a One Show award, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and three Directors Guild of America (DGA) nominations for best Director.

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Curatorial Team

Yujin Iris Jeong | Suzie John | Jim Czarnecki