Michael Morgan: Long Island Trash

Michael Morgan (b. 1992, Syosset, Long Island) is a contemporary multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary artist whose work explores themes of identity, loss, LGBTQ history, environmental issues, and societal division. Raised in a conservative suburb of Long Island, Morgan’s early experiences navigating his sexuality within a community at odds with his identity profoundly shaped his artistic voice. His work often highlights underrepresented voices, including a project honoring Christine Jorgensen, a prominent trans figure from his hometown. His painting Red at Morning reflects on themes of division and gatekeeping.

Morgan earned his B.A. in Environmental Sciences from Northwestern University in 2014. After the passing of his father, he shifted his focus from a legal career to art and art education, serving as Director of Students at the New York Academy of Art for three years. He went on to graduate summa cum laude from Columbia University with a second bachelor’s degree in visual arts, where he was also initiated into Phi Beta Kappa. During his time at Columbia, he was also a graphic designer at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment and was a finalist for the 2020 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics for his writings on environmental theory and art.

Currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Visual Arts at Cornell University, Morgan works across mediums including painting, sculpture, collage, and mixed-media installations. He curated Magnum O-Pspsps at Cornell University, a large-scale exhibition featuring over 40 artists and reviewed by Hyperallergic and Art Spiel.