My latest Artist Spotlight Series feature is one to watch.

This west coast creative’s work is vivacious and vibrant.

Enjoy getting to know

K’era Morgan

Los Angeles, California

 

What is your training? 

I’m an academically trained artist having received my BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Although my studies began at the California College of Arts Crafts (now it’s called California College of the Arts) right after high school, I transferred to SAIC two years later and dove into textile design and photography. It was rather keen on surface design— screen printing, hand-painting via various techniques on fabrics and using images I captured in my photography studies into my textile work.

What inspires you and your designs?

My designs for my collection of woven home goods all begin as original paintings. My collage paintings, as an intuitive artist, are inspired by life as I try to capture an emotion or a feeling or a sensation. My paintings in many ways are how I process the world around me. Needless to say, there is a surplus amount of inspiration to pull from.

What is your favorite piece? 

My favorite piece is always the one I just completed! That is to say, they are all my favorites because they represent a piece of me at a particular point in time. The one I’m currently loving is part of my newest Emotere collection, which I started at the beginning of the Covid-19 quarantine. It’s called Don’t Stop the Boogie. The name alone makes me love it.

What is your favorite restaurant in (your city)?

I don’t have a favorite restaurant per se. There are restaurants that have dishes that I love that I find myself craving like the avocado toast with a poached egg that comes floating in a delicious tomato bisque from Bianca Bakery in Culver City.

If anything, I tend to like casual restaurants and search for places that have great breakfast faire.

What is your favorite cocktail?

I’m not a drinker. Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you I’m a lightweight. I love the idea of drinking a glass of sancerre but I generally can never finish a full glass. However, there is one cocktail I discovered while living in Spain that I love called “tinto de verano.” It’s red wine mixed with lemon soda. I know, gasp, any real wine drinker would cringe at the thought of mixing vino with soda but I promise, give a try with a few ice cubes on a hot day.

I also love a good smoky margarita on the rocks made with Mezcal.

How do you balance personal life and work?

I balance as best as I can but the scales usually hang heavier on one side or the other and usually it’s work more often than not. What I’ve learned is to be aware of when that is happening and making a conscious effort to pull back and give myself permission to chill. I read a quote recently that said: “Sis, Breathe… There is no reward for overworked female of the year.”

Dream trip?

During Covid, anywhere outside of the U.S. since there are about two foreign countries that will actually allow U.S. citizens to enter! Under non-Covid circumstances – trekking through Patagonia, sailing the Adriatic Coast or climbing Kilimanjaro and celebrating in Zanzibar post-climb!

Dream commission?

Painting a mural in a fabulously large swimming pool.

Your favorite host / hostess gift to give?

Copal incense. Even if you don’t like incense, copal resin is a scent no one has ever turned their nose up to and it’s simply beautiful to look at it even if you don’t burn it.

Who is your style icon?

Tracee Ellis Ross. She can rock a jumpsuit like a pro and I practically live in jumpsuits/overalls. She is also hysterically funny and from what I can tell, very down to earth and someone I would genuinely want to hang out with regularly.

Your favorite up and coming artist?

Good question which always makes me think about how we as a collective determine “up and coming” vs. “established.” Do we mean unrepresented vs blue chip? Some artists work that I love that may not be on every curator, gallerists radar include but have a following and fan base of collectors include: Yoyo Lander, Natasha Cunningham – a Jamaican graphic designer/, Lauren Pearce – amazing portrait artist and muralist,

Textile artist Adriana Meunie based in Spain,

Marsha Robinson of Strange Dirt,

uber talented dancer/choreographer Malaika Salatis

What is your most treasured possession?

One of my mom’s journals that my sister found while going through her things after she had transitioned. The one line entries are hard to read because of the loss of her motor skills but the ones I can make out, her words are profound and when I read them I can hear her voice in my head.

What are you reading?

I’m working my way through a book that explains Human Design by Karen Curry

and I just finished the novel Luster by Raven Leilani.

I received Gather, a book by Octavia Raheem

and plan on dipping into that nightly before bed. It’s not a novel but a collection of poetry and mantras.

What are you listening to?

Anything that Novena Carmel of KCRW mashes together in her new music playlists— which is a mixture of soul, funk, global tunes, and so on.

What are your favorite blogs / publications?

I tend to have a selection of podcasts I favor more than blogs I read regularly like Still Processing, Call Your Girlfriend, Code Switch, Tara Brach, Hey Girl by Alex Elle… 

I listened to the first episode of Michelle Obama’s podcast, which I loved.

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Be sure to follow K’era on her website and Instagram. 

 

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