A First Helping of July Goodness...
Kit Killington
Founder & Agent at Killington Arts Illustration Agency. Facilitating beautiful projects and building careers for over 25 years
As we ease into July, our 1st 4x4 of the month will look at the powerful and intriguing work of Joe Morse. Having worked almost exclusively in rather hazardous industrial spray paints for many years, he now provides his artwork most often in digital format. Perhaps best known for his celebrity portraiture, his works capture more than simply a likeness, they carry important aspects of the personality within. During a career spanning decades, his artwork has graced advertising campaigns, murals for sports arenas, book covers, DJ booths of achingly cool clubs and editorial publications worldwide.
As ever, you can see more work on our website, social media or Behance pages.
When Joe Morse was first approached by The Folio Society to work with the inimitable, Toni Morrison he jumped at the chance. ?They worked closely together on an illustrated collector's edition of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Beloved. The strength and power of the images mirrored so perfectly the heart-wrenching remembrances of a former slave in post-Civil War Ohio.
Joe writes poignantly about the commission, his inspirations and his relationship with Toni Morrison on his Substack page, Eye Drop Weekly. Definitely worth a read!
You can see more of Joe's work on our website or on social media.?
Joe has worked on a number of images for Forbes over the years, but this is arguably the most spectacular. ?To accompany the yearly list of the 400 most wealthy Americans, these exquisite portraits exude power and suggest an intriguing narrative - what a dinner party this would be! ??
If you would like to see more of Joe's beautiful work, do visit our website, Instagram or join Joe on Substack.
The LA Times commissioned Joe Morse to create a calendar cover that summed up the glamour and drama of Hollywood's big day.?
Entitled 'A Speech to Remember' it depicts the nerves and expectation that surround giving a speech that may have been drafted weeks, or indeed years before the event itself. ?Joe's magnificent, almost cinematic lighting and stillness capture the moment beautifully. Breath held, he steps into the light.
More of Joe's wonderful works are available on our Behance pages - or just drop us a line!
Joe Morse's powerful images go beyond engagement with the adult world and he has created many delightful illustrations which capture a child's imagination to inspire a thirst for knowledge. ?This beautiful book with the wonderful Wab Kinew is a joyous celebration of Indigenous heroes through the ages. Joe's masterful images provide an 'in' for children to discover a world of true stories and endless possibilities. ?
You can see more work on our website or social media
We'd love to connect with you so do scan the QR code below to share your thoughts, keep up to date with new images or just instant message our principal agent, Kit Killington.?
Artists represented: Jun Cen, Owen Freeman, Kuri Huang, Liang-Hsin Huang, Ailsa Johnson, Loris Lora, Rutu Modan, Joe Morse, Cat O'Neil, Hanoch Piven, Paul Rogers, Meilo So, Mark Ulriksen, Olivier Kugler, Grace Park, Heping Wu
Killington Arts:
Tel: 020 462 9820
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If you would like to see more work by any of our artists we would be delighted to hear from you at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can view more works on either our Behance pages or social media. Thank you so much for your wonderful support.?