Morgan Newton: The South Got Something to Say

December 07 - February 01,2025

From the artist: "This winter, Sanman Studios pleased to share The South Got Somethin’ To Say, Morgan Newton's debut solo exhibition, on view in Houston from December 7th, 2024 to February 1st, 2025. Newton’s erudite cosmological journey reimagines Black Southern women-centered storytelling through the experimental mediums of textiles, mixed media collage, acrylic paintings, and video production illuminated by a backdrop of hip hop soundscapes. This is a visual declaration of the intricate nexus of Black womanhood, Black Southern pride, and cultural memory that is greatly inspired by music artist Andre 3000’s memorable acceptance speech at the 1995 Source Awards. Through the creation of this new body of work, Newton’s exhibition is an interwoven expedition of intergenerational narratives, Black Southern tradition, and multidimensional depictions of the Black Southern women's lived experience. As an ode to Black women who are disempowered in an oppressive society, Newton’s theme of heavenly bodies adorns her subjects as divinity personified. The South Got Somethin’ To Say, reminiscently embraces personal reflection in addition invoking communal memory in order to create amongst audiences a visceral feeling of coming home. Morgan Newton: The South Got Somethin’ To Say, is curated by Seth Rogers, the Co-Founder and Director of Sanman Studios. Public Programs: Saturday, December 7 from 7-9pm | Opening Reception Saturday, January 11 from | Artist Talk: The South Got Somethin’ To Say with Bria Lauren Artist Morgan Newton: Morgan Newton was born in 1999 and raised in Houston, Texas. She earned her BFA in Painting from Howard University (2021). Inspired by her familial roots in Houston, Texas she wields multiple mediums to craft multilayered narratives that conceptualize the beauty of the lyrical Black Southern upbringing. Newton’s contemporary historical documentation of Black matriarchal influence is employed through the use of textiles, cyanotype photography, mixed media collages, acrylic painting and creative film documentary. The re-empowered Black woman subject exemplifies intersectional phenomena of navigating beauty, performance, and self-actualization under a societal gaze. The material culture of Newton’s work implores the audience to cogitate upon African American traditions of spiritual practices, acts of resilience and resourcefulness. About Sanman Studios: Founded as a Houston-based art and cultural organization aimed to “See a Need. Meet a Need,” the gallery operates an 11,000 sqft warehouse composed of two multi-use production studios, a contemporary art gallery, and an artist residency workspace. In 2018, Sanman Studios and their non-profit initiative, the See A Need-Meet A Need Foundation, created opportunities for artists and creatives in the Greater Houston area to foster their crafts, develop their careers, and actualize their dreams. Sanman has partnered with local and major brands including: Spotify, Adidas, BeatsbyDre, Google, Highsnobiety, Lululemon, Puma and Nike. The organization has been featured in Burnaway, Elle Magazine, ESSENCE, Pitchfork, and local Houston news sources. sanman.company / san-man.org"

Reception: December 07, 2024 | 7-9 pm

Sanman Studios 1109 Providence Street, Suite 3
Houston, Texas 77002
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