Lawrence Morrell

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LAWRENCE MORRELL GLASS SCULPTOR

The elegance of the nearly invisible world of Molecular Biology defines Morrell’s

transparent steps were hollowed out with a pine tree branch and needle motif and

artwork. His innovative sculptures describe reimagined life forms and minute

filled with thousands of illuminated fiber-optic strands that softly undulate with color.

structures in luminous and intricately textured glass. He is also preoccupied by the new science of Synthetic Biology. Similar to the way scientists may re-engineer

His unique artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally including at the

an organism’s function by rearranging its genetic structure, Morrell uses computer

US Embassy in Qatar as a part of the Art in Embassies Program. Here is what art

imaging software to reorganize images from the natural world to use in his work. His

critics are saying about Morrell’s artwork:

carved glass sculptures are informed by these images, describing a refined surface of dense, organic textures in this very solid yet translucent material.

“...Lawrence Morrell’s mesmerizing glass sculpture, Chameleon I, stands out.

Morrell’s abstracted plant-cell structures are illuminated via LED lights that shift

Morrell was born in Oregon and spent 15 years in New York City creating sculptures

between green, pink and electric blue. The artist is at an interesting point in his

for Cartier, Saks 5th Ave. and a two story glass facade for the Milennium at Times

career, as his work is at a cross-roads of geeky, gee-whiz romanticism and the

Square Hotel. Collaborating with other artists, he created the New York Vietnam

equally gee-whiz but more academically rarefied California light-and-space school,

Veterans War Memorial in carved, illuminated glass. He was interviewed on National

as exemplified by Robert Irwin (and James Turrell... In pieces like this, Morrell proves

Public Television on The McNeil Lehrer News Hour about the experience. In 1995 he

he has the chops to rise above the curb appeal of “Ooh” and “Ahh!” without

moved to the vibrant West Coast art glass community in Portland, Oregon, creating

rejecting the visceral thrills of sheer optical pleasure”

sculptures for VISA International and an actively illuminated, 30 foot long horizontal

­–Richard Speer, art critic

sculpture for The Portland Center for the Performing Arts. Inspired by the lush, botanical diversity of Oregon, he created a glowing, spiral glass staircase. The

Published by PORTLAND FINE ART - Images by LawrenceMorrell ©Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Speer’s art reviews, and feature articles have appeared in Newsweek, Salon, ARTnews, Art Ltd., and The Los Angeles Times. Speer is the author of the 2005 biography of Outsider artist Matt Lamb, Matt Lamb: The Art of Success.

Blue Ostrich 19 “ x 15” x 2.5” glass close up on previous page

Transference I 24” x 24” x 2.5” glass

Gem Heat Sapphire 20” x 20” x 2.5” glass

Gregorian Coral I 20” x 20” x 2.5” glass close up on cover

1. Synthetic Ostrich, 20” x 20” x 2.5”, glass 2. Gregorian Coral II, 20” x 20” x 2.5”, glass 3. Chameleon Ostrich, 20 “ x 20” x 2.5”, glass

Compound Eye 19 “ x 15” x 2.5” glass

Synthetic Coral I 25 “ x 25” x 1.75” glass

Lawrence Morrell Chrysalis 19” x 15” x 2.5” glass

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PORTLAND FINE ART - LawrenceMorrell ©Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.