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Victoria Morton spent much of her 2009 residency in the Museum’s galleries taking photographs and immersing herself in the collections of paintings, textiles, and rare books. Morton was deeply inspired by the dialogue with old masters in the Museum and by Isabella Stewart Gardner’s distinctive and idiosyncratic gallery installations that include a wide range of art objects. She researched the textile collection—both on-site and off—and painted several small works in the Artist-in-Residence apartment studio during her first month at the Gardner. Morton returned in 2010 for two weeks to continue exploring the collection of textiles and books. This included several articles of clothing and costumes collected by Gardner as well as a special edition of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven with translation by Mallarme and lithographs by Maneti.
Morton returned in January 2012 to install (Tapestry) RADIO ON: New Work by Victoria Morton, the first exhibition of works to inaugurate the Hostetter special exhibition gallery and the New Wing. The first solo-show of the artist in the United States, it included large and small-scale paintings and sculptures. The works on view were heavily textured, vivid, and unite delicate luminosity and bold flamboyance as Morton combines diverse art historical influences, fashion, and experimental musical composition with personal expression.
As part of the opening events, Morton and the six other members of the band Muscles Of Joy performed at the highly anticipated re-launch of Gardner After Hours (now called Third Thursday).
Victoria Morton (b. 1971 Scotland) studied painting at Glasgow School of Art from 1993, which she followed with an MA. Her work has been shown at Inverleith House, Edinburgh, Sadie Coles HQ and Whitechapel Art Gallery, London; Modern Institute, Glasgow; Gavin Brown’s Enterprise, New York; Galerie Enja Wonneberge, Kiel and S.M.A.K., Gent. Group exhibitions include Glasgow In Viaggio, Museo Corta Alta, Fossombrone, Italy, 2004, and Painting Not Painting with Jim Lambie, Julie Roberts, and Richard Slee at Tate St. Ives, Cornwall, 2003. In 2002, Morton was commissioned by the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh to create new paintings. A monograph of her work was published by Fruitmarket Gallery to coincide with the exhibition. A catalogue of her exhibition at Inverleith House, Edinburgh was published in 2011. Victoria Morton lives and works in Glasgow Scotland and Fossombrone, Italy. As well as exhibiting her own work, Morton has made collaborative work as a member of the performance and installation group Elizabeth Go and plays in the band, Muscles of Joy.