Amy Morken

My art captures moments that are a little strange, a little chaotic. Ripped from everyday life, each smirk, costume, and tangled limb reflects the push and pull of belonging and exclusion. It’s drawn to the theatrical nature of daily interactions, where swagger and absurdity share the same stage. Working in mainly watercolor, gouache and pencil, I layer color, line, and gesture to create figures that feel both exposed and disguised. They’re rooted in hyper-dexterity and performance, shaped by influences from the Bay Area Figurative Movement, the Coney Island boardwalk, birthday parties, and the messy rituals of daily life. My paintings invite viewers to linger in the tension between discomfort, humor, artifice & honesty.