Bruce Morozko
My personal iconography and narrative style stems from an affection for surrealism and the bizarre, combined with an intense appreciation for the mystery and timeless quality established by the art and artifacts of ancient civilizations. As a 21st century imaginer and storyteller I think about order evolving from a dysfunctional state. I think about the process of natural selection and survival of the fittest. I am inspired by patterns in nature and fractal iterations.
At the core of my sculpture is a set of formal concerns that evolves out of an inherent sense of rhythm, balance and a love of science and math. My aesthetic choices tend to gravitate toward objects, both man-made and natural, that harbor a particular internal dynamic flow. In my art I like to capture the essence and energy of pure forms and then literally disguise them as manifestations of a new breed or fictitious alien culture where I am in control of the evolutionary path.
The challenge of my visual dialog is to be, at once, peculiar, provocative, entertaining, and sublime. I want the work to be mesmerizing and seductive. Individual pieces function as icons, standing alone to represent an entire class.
Subjectively, I am seeking a path or course for the abnormal and the dysfunctional by establishing uniquely weird attributes for their unification. There is an obvious implied hierarchy that is often accomplished by staging juxtapositions of my characters in processionals that are full of pageantry. Primary characters will rise to the top as minions fall into step in support of something greater.
By turning humor and silliness into serious obsessive ritual I seek to establish emotional content and the representation of ethereal goals suggested by the order and submission of its constituents. I anticipate and hope viewers will dig deep into their own private pictorial histories to relate to or unravel the underling mysteries presented by the images.
Artist's Statement
EDUCATION
1977 MFA , CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
1974 BFA, KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE, Kansas City, Missouri.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS AWARDS AND HONORS
2024 “THE HINDSIGHT OF MIND’S EYE" 1993 NJ STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS Fellowship
Chamot Gallery, Syracuse, NY. 1979 NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS Fellowship
2003 “BRUCE MOROZKO” TEXT BOOK REPRESENTATION
John Elder Gallery, NYC
2000 “SCULPTURE AND DRAWINGS”
New Jersey Artist Series
The Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
2000 “SCULPTURE”
Chamot Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
1996 “SCULPTURE”
Chamot Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
1996 “SCULPTURE AND DRAWINGS”
Shoe String Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 “FORM MEETS FUNCTION” Urban Studio Unbound, Yonkers, NY
2024 “FEBRUARY INVITATIONAL” The Belmar Art Center, Belmar, NJ
2023 “DON’T PUT ME IN A BOX” Firmament Gallery, Jersey City, NJ,
currated by Johannah Hutchison
2021 “14C @ MANA: The Akwaaba Gallery, Newark, NJ
2017 “INVITATIONAL EXHIBIT” The Dunya Gallery, Bernardsville, NJ
2017 ‘7 ARTISTS 7 TEACHERS‘ Invitational Exhibition, Farmstead Art Center
2011. “WINDOWS ON WASHINGTON” Jersey City, NJ, Curated by James Pustorino
2010. “THE BECON EXHIBIT” The Becon, Jersy City Curated by James Pustorino
2003 “NEW KID ON THE BLOCK”
City Hall Rotunda Gallery, J.C., N.J.
2002 “THE END OF LIFE SHOW” currated by William Rodwell
The Irving Goldman Gallery, J.C., N.J.
“SUMMER SALON SHOW” Charles Chamot Gallery, J.C.,N.J.
“THE ART OF COLLECTING FINE ART”
The Morris Museum, Morristown, N.J.
“EXPLORATIONS IN CLAY”; invitational; Firehouse Art Gallery
Nassau County Community College
2001 “YOUNG AT ART” Sam Citron Gallery, J.C.,N.J.
2000 “SELECTIONS FROM THE ALLEN CHASANOFF CERAMICS COLLECTION”
The Mint Museum of Craft and Design
1999 “FACULTY SHOW” Kingsborough Community College C.U.N.Y.
1998 “MUTUAL SUPPORT”
Unveiled September 24, 1998, Morris Museum, Morristown, NY
1997 “NEW JERSEY ARTS ANNUAL”
The Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
“THE RAIN FOREST EXHIBITION”
John McEnroe Gallery, New York, NY
“CHAOS”
Progressive Culture Works Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
“THE GRAVEN IMAGE”
Max Fish, New York, NY & Union County Community College, NJ
1996 “OCTOBER SHOW”
Raritan Valley Community College, Raritan Valley, NJ
“FACULTY SHOW- SMALL WORKS”
Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
“FELLOWSHIP EXHIBITION”
The Noyes Museum, Oceanville, NJ
1995 “IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE”
NJ Designer Craftsmen, New Brunswick, NJ
1993 “RACISMS”
Progressive Culture Works Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
“MOM & DAD”
Progressive Culture Works Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
1992 “CATHOLICISM”
Progressive Culture Works Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
1991 “ANIMALS IN ART” Streichler Gallery, Englewood, NJ
1987 COLLECT NEW YORK AT STEUBEN GLASS
The Empire State Crafts Alliance, New York, NY
1986 “SAVAGE FOE OF REASON “
Public Sculpture Installation, Kenmare Square, NY
1985 “IN THE SURREALIST SPIRIT”
City Without Walls Gallery, Newark, NJ
1983 “PERSONAL ICONOGRAPHY”
Elements Gallery, New York, NY
1982 “INNOVATIONS ‘82”
Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
DRAWING INVITATIONAL
Cleveland State University Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio
1981 PAINT ON CLAY
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1978 “4/4”
Artemesia Gallery, Chicago, Ill.
“YOUNG AMERICANS: CLAY/GLASS”
Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York, NY
“ABOUT FACE”
Niagara County Community College Gallery, Sanborn, NY
1977 “DECEMBER TWELVE”
Exhibit “A” Gallery, Evanston , Ill.
“BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wis.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
Dory Gates Gallery, Kansas City, Mo.
“SELECT WORKS”
Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
CATALOGS
THE END OF LIFE SHOW
2002 The Irving Goldman Gallery, Jersey City, N.J.
ALLAN CHASNOFF CERAMIC COLLECTION
2000 Mint Museum of Craft and Design,
NJ ARTS ANNUAL 1997
1997 The Morris Museum, September 14- November 23
NJ STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
1994-1995 Fellowship Exhibition, The Noyes Museum, NJ
MOM & DAD
1993 Progressive Culture Works, Jersey City, NJ
CATHOLICISM
1992 Progressive Culture Works, Jersey City, NJ
INNOVATIONS 82 CRAFTS
1982 Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
YOUNG AMERICANS : CLAY/GLASS
1978 The Museum Of Contemporary Crafts;N.Y.C.
ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS
“MEET THE ARTIST...BRUCE MOROZKO,”
Marjorie Donchley, The Press, Atlantic City, NJ, February 18, 1996
“THE PITFALLS OF SUCCESS,”
George Point, Art Times (the magazine of the visual arts in NJ.,)
September 1995
“INSPIRATION KANSAS CITY STYLE,”
Anne S. Canfield, Ozark Magazine, January 1986
“STAN MACK REAL LIFE FUNNIES - BRUCE & BLANCHE,”
Village Voice, August 1983
FACULTY
2006-2021 RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Art teacher; full time; Ceramics and Sculpture
2011-2015 NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY
Adjunct Professor; Ceramics
2003- 2004
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
Adjunct Professor; Ceramics, Sculpture and Drawing
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
B.F.A. Adjunct Professor, Illustration
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Adjunct Professor; Sculpture and Painting
1999-2003
KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE; C.U.N.Y.
Assistant Professor, Ceramics
1997-2000
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
B.F.A. Adjunct Professor, 3-Dimensional Illustration
1980-1999
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Adjunct Professor, Ceramics
1998 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY; TEACHERS COLLEGE
M.F.A. Adjunct Professor, Sculpture
REVIEWS
N.Y.TIMES ART GUIDE
Bruce Morozko at John Elder Gallery
Ken Johnson, The N.Y.Times, May 2003
“THE SUMMER SALON SHOW”
21 Artists exhibit work at the Charles Chamot Gallery
E.Mulero, The Hudson Current, August 1, 2002
“UP FRONT” Ceramics Monthly, January 2001
“NOT-SO-MERRY MENAGERIE”
Sculptor’s terra cotta creations pose serious questions
Dan Bishoff, The Star Ledger, September 8, 2000
“USER-FRIENDLY”
Laurie Granieri, The Home News Tribune, September 1, 2000
“MEDIUM MATTERS IN ART SHOW WITH FOCUS ON CRAFTS”
Eileen Watkins,The Star Ledger, October 3, 1997
“SATIRIC LOOK AT RELIGIOUS IMAGES- THE GRAVEN IMAGE,”
Eileen Watkins, The Star Ledger, February 20, 1997, p.32
“MEET THE ARTIST” AT NOYES MUSEUM,
South Jersey Advisor, February 15, 1996
“SHOESTRING GALLERY SOLO EXHIBITION,”
Jersey Journal, November 1996
“ART AND SPIRIT,”
Kay Kenny, Jersey Journal, December 20, 1996
“RELIGIOUS THEME FEATURED IN ART EXHIBIT,”
Effie Pavlov, Gold Coast Magazine , March 1, 1991
“A DOZEN JERSEY CITY ARTISTS IN VAN VORST SHOW,”
George Point, Gold Coast Magazine, November 8, 1990
“ARTISTA DE NOVA YORK,”
Cassiano Polesi, Cultur & Lazer, Diario Do Grande ABC,
November 10, 1990
“ART TO MATCH MAGIC,”
John Zeaman, The Bergen Record, December, 1985
“SURREALIST IMAGES COLOR NEW EXHIBIT,”
Eileen Watkins, The Star Ledger, September 25, 1985, p. 49
“INNOVATION/CRAFTS,”
Ceramics Monthly, June 1982
“NON-TRADITIONAL CERAMICS SHOWN AT ART CENTER,”
Paint On Clay at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center,
Wisconsin Weekend, Sheboygen News, March, 1981
“4/4: GROPING FOR MEANING WITHIN THE STATUS QUO”, by
Devonna Pieszak, The New Art Examiner, February 1979
“PAINT ON CLAY,”
Janet Koplos, American Craft Magazine, 1980, p. 25
“ART REVIEW,”
Harold Hayden, Art writer, Chicago Sun Times , January 5,1979
“Bruce Morozko’s strange ceramic busts”
“CRAFTS FROM YOUNG ARTISTS,”
Roslyn Siegal, The New York Times, Thursday, July 20, 1978
“NCCC SHOW FOCUSES ON FACES,”
Richard Huntington, Buffalo Courier Express, March 14, 1978
“ART,”
Melody Cooke, Niagara Gazette, March 11, 1978 p. 5
2006 THE YIXING EFFECT: Echoes of the Chinese Scholar, Marvin Sweet, Foreign Language Press