Michael Morgan: Bear Season

Exhibition Abstract

Over the past year, Michael Morgan (M.F.A. '26) has been painting and sculpting queer men who embody the "bear" archetype across several distinct series. Bear Season gathers those pieces for the first time and pushes the inquiry further with new portraits and collages. Together the works celebrate the archetype's allure while asking what's gained—and lost—when queer bodies are sorted into such labels.

Exhibitor Biography

Michael Morgan (b. 1992, Syosset, Long Island) is a contemporary mixed-media 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.

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. He went on to graduate from Columbia University with a second bachelor's degree in visual arts. During his time at Columbia, he was also a researcher and 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. His work often highlights underrepresented voices, including a project honoring Christine Jorgensen, a prominent trans figure from his hometown. His notable painting Red at Morning reflects on themes of division and gatekeeping.