TENUOUS by Dana Morrison
TENUOUS by DANA MORRISON
Opening reception: Friday, October 17, 6-8p
On view through January 9, 2026, at Michelle Thomas Fine Art Gallery + Studio
ARTIST STATEMENT
Conceptually, my work explores the human form, its function and dysfunction, and our physical responses to emotions. Strong mental emotions or external stimuli can conjure an involuntary bodily response, such as a faster heart rate. These are responses each of us can relate to as they are an innate part of our human experience.
The work explores the concept of boundaries, including the interior, the exterior, and the interaction between the natural world and our humanity. In an age where nearly every aspect of modern life is digitized, pixilated, and computer-assisted, this work celebrates the hand, focuses the viewer on texture and mass; it asks for close attention and reveals physical labor. Each piece requires mathematics, scientific research, and an understanding of the elements of time and gravity to complete.
I often use architectural materials and common household items to provide an abstract metaphor for the human figure. The concepts, materials, and negative spaces in these pieces allow the viewer to contemplate their own physical and emotional mechanics. The surface and color palette remain unaltered, referencing the rawness, strength, and delicacy of human emotion and its physiological effects. These works allow the viewer to consider both their own physical and emotional state and that of the world we inhabit.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dana Morrison lives and works in San Francisco, California. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2016 and her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Ceramics from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2010.
Morrison graduated with SFAI’s top award from the Anne Bremer Foundation and has been recognized through several grants and awards over the course of her career. She received the Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Arts Award by SOMArts Cultural Center in 2015, which honors the top 20 emerging artists in the Bay Area. She received a full fellowship to attend the Vermont Studio Center in 2017 and, in 2025, was awarded the Playa at Summer Lake artist residency in Oregon.
Morrison grew up in a small town in central Pennsylvania and was given her first 35mm camera at the age of twelve, sparking her interest in the arts. She maintains a strong studio practice, working primarily in sculpture, performance, and both traditional and digital photography, teaching photography and art courses to students of all ages.
Learn more about Dana Morrison HERE.
