Pat Morrow

My paintings live at the intersection of structure and spontaneity, where organic shapes and playful gesture share the same space. I’m drawn to the interplay of positive and negative space, biomorphic forms, and precise edges, and the way they can create both harmony and tension within a composition. Working in layers, I build textures and patterns that record my process, allowing traces of earlier marks to remain visible. Every line, form, and color choice is both intentional and instinctive, like fragments of a conversation. Each piece evolves as I work, shifting direction as color and form begin to speak back to me. Often, the painting tells me what it wants to become — my role is to listen. For me, painting is a dance between order and chaos, planning and play. The joy comes in holding those opposites in balance, creating a visual rhythm that invites viewers to linger in the in-between — where structure meets the unexpected.

My entire life has been involved in creative pursuits. At the University of Iowa and the University of Kansas, I studied Drawing and Painting, as well as design and photography, earning a BFA in Drawing and Painting. Out of college, I became the first woman photographer on the Kansas City Star Sunday Magazine. Then spent the majority of my professional life as a Producer/Director in Chicago, creating large multi-screen corporate stage shows and installations. After retiring from production, I established Trail Mix Studio of Colorado, becoming recognized as a Studio Furniture Designer/Maker featured in prestigious books including Fine Woodworking “Design Book Eight”, “500 Tables”, “Studio Furniture - Today’s Leading Woodworkers”, and many more. I was also invited to teach my craft at the college level. Along the way, I designed and built several of my houses, including my current home in Santa Fe, which includes a studio where I’ve returned to my original love of painting.

2-D, Painting (all materials)