Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Prosser
Hi Morgan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was a child, I had a really hard time coping with strong emotions. They seemed to consume me and I desperately needed a way to express what I was feeling. That’s when I fell in love with the arts as a whole. I started to use expression through creating and participating in the arts as a coping mechanism, and it taught me about the impact that the arts has on quality of life.
In college, I knew I wanted to be involved in the arts, but had not quite decided how. I had told myself at first I wasn’t skilled enough to be a real creator, but maybe I could still help those create. That is when I decided to major in Arts Administration and Art History at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. It was a couple of years later when I took my first painting class that things changed – I had absolutely fallen in love with the painting process. I finally saw how I could support the arts and make the art myself. I added a Fine Art major with the guidance of an amazing professor and mentor. This was the beginning of my creative practice that I have continued building on ever since.
I graduated college in 2020, which was a difficult year for many reasons. Graduating with a degree in Fine Art, Art History and Arts Administration in the middle of a world wide pandemic meant little to no opportunity to use my degree. Regardless, I continued to paint almost every day, sometimes for several hours after a long shift working in customer service. I also wrote about art and art history frequently. Art continued to be my outlet during hard times.
In late 2021, I finally landed a job at a local art non profit in Kansas City where I could utilize my degree. I was elated. I finally felt secure in my future. Through this entire journey, I continued to paint, network, and sell work to friends and family. In 2024, I moved into my current studio space in the West Bottoms. Being able to have a dedicated space for creation and collaboration did wonders for my confidence. I continue to use this space today to host events, paint, and sell work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly not been a smooth ride- I think most folks who are trying to make it in the art world in this day and age would agree. It’s difficult from a small business perspective because you’re competing with large corporations and AI. It’s also difficult because of my own personal mental health issues. It’s very difficult to create when you’re just worried about surviving your own emotions.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an artist, but more specifically I am a painter, and that is what I most identify with title wise. I specialize in still life paintings, but I’m always trying to build my skill set in portraiture and landscape paintings as well. I am known for expressing my emotions vividly on canvas through bold color usage and visible paint application. I don’t focus on blending. I like to see the history of a painting build up in layers. I use acrylic paint because it is flat and fast drying, but also easy to manipulate in many ways. I would say I am most proud of my knowledge of color, shape and art history. I think what sets me apart from other artists is my personal emotional interpretation of the mundane.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.morganprosserart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mopromakesart/?hl=en
