Malcolm Morley 1931, London, UK-2018, New York, NY, USA
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“Two words characterize my art: diversity and fidelity. Fidelity somehow binds the diversity. And although the paintings might look very different from each other, you get the feeling the same artist painted them.”
– Malcolm Morley1931, London, UK–2018, New York, NY, USA
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The first winner of the prestigious Turner Prize, Malcolm Morley, was hailed by Salvador Dalí as “the best painter of his generation”. Known for his continual artistic innovations, Morley achieved a prominent status in different painting movements and pioneered two influential art movements of the 20th century: Super-realism and Neo-expressionism.
Morley began his artistic journey by attending the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts from 1952 to 1953, followed by the Royal College of Art from 1955 to 1957. In the mid-1960s, he was teachung at various institutions such as Ohio State University, the School of Visual Arts (1967–1969), and Stony Brook University (1970–1974).
After relocating to New York in 1958, Morley gradually immersed himself in the city’s art scene, crossing paths with renowned artists like Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Barnett Newman, and forming a friendship with Roy Lichtenstein. He departed from abstract art and shifted towards highly realistic paintings, solidifying his reputation as one of the pioneers of the Photorealist movement.
In the 1970s, Morley’s paintings evolved, moving away from the precise structure of Super-Realism. His brushwork became more visible and expressive, incorporating collage techniques. These works are considered the precursors to the dominant painting style of the 1980s, Neo-expressionism, and positioned Morley as an early advocate and influential figure.
Morley’s distinctive style encompassed elements of autobiography, politics, psychoanalysis, mythology, and the visual culture of his era, exploring the boundless possibilities of paint. Throughout his career, he often depicted nautical scenes, fighter planes, and airplanes, drawing inspiration from various sources and deeply rooted in his childhood memories.
In 1984, Morley won the inaugural Turner Prize. He was also the 1992 winner of the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture’s Painting Award and was represented at Documenta V (1972) and Documenta VI in Kassel (1977).
Morley showed internationally, including major retrospectives at the Centre Pompidou (Paris, France, 1993) and the Brooklyn Museum (New York, NY, USA, 1984), which later travelled to the Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago, IL, USA).
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Works
Malcolm Morley 1931, London, UK-2018, New York, NY, USA
Thor, 2008Oil on linen with cloth and rubber glove attachment219,7 × 166,4 cmFurther images
Malcolm Morley's renowned motocross paintings find their roots in photojournalism, seamlessly blending his realistic style honed in the 1960s with a masterful transition towards artist’s abstract vision. In his constant...Malcolm Morley's renowned motocross paintings find their roots in photojournalism, seamlessly blending his realistic style honed in the 1960s with a masterful transition towards artist’s abstract vision. In his constant exploration of imagery, Morley skillfully juxtaposed lifelike depictions of riders with abstract renditions, symbolizing the challenge of tracking objects at high speeds.
‘Thor,’ 2008, emerges as a unique blend of Morley’s Super-realism and Neo-expressionist styles—a testament to artist's continually evolving painting format. Morley portrayed the motocross rider as a mythic hero, depicting a contemporary mythology in paint. The penciled grid at the edges and scattered bits of paper beneath the racer subvert Morley's photorealistic approach. An authentic racing glove (crafted by the famous moto gear manufacturer 'Thor Motocross') pinned to the painting's lower right corner further emphasizes the racer's ethereal nature.
Exhibitions
Malcolm Morley, Sperone Westwater, New York, Apr 16–Jun 20, 2009
Malcolm Morley: Seven Paintings, Xavier Hufkens, Brussels, Mar 4–May 10, 20104of 4-
Malcolm Morley and Dirk Skreber | Group exhibition ‘Tempo. Tempo! Tempo?’
June 10, 2023 – February 4, 2024 | Kunstmuseum Schloss Derneburg, Hall Collection, DerneburgExploring the concept of “speed” through several thematic lenses and media, Kunstmuseum Schloss Derneburg will present over forty contemporary artworks by approximately thirty internationally renowned artists working in sculpture, painting,... -
Malcolm Morley | Shipwreck
November 20, 2022 – April 16, 2023 | NSU Art Museum, Fort LauderdaleNSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale will present Malcolm Morley: Shipwreck, in collaboration with Hall Art Foundation. Malcolm Morley (b. London, 1931-2018) achieved widespread acclaim in the 1960s for his photo-based...
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