Troy University’s International Arts Center will host an artist reception for Jayne Morgan from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 14.
The free reception will honor the exhibit, “Sweet Dreams,” that has been on display through the summer and will close on Aug. 14. The event also will serve as a welcome back to school event for students. Refreshments will be served.
Morgan travels across the country in her Airstream trailer, showcasing her oil and acrylic paintings. The 1964 Airstream is regularly a subject of her work along with landscapes, flowers in jars and her signature subject, the Honeybear. As Morgan grew up, the bear-shaped honey bottle was a staple of the family dinner table.
“Each object and place carry a story, a dream, or a fragment of nostalgia,” Morgan said. “These images are not just still lives or scenes — they are emotional landmarks. The honey bears, for example, are more than just playful containers; they’re tied to a ritual of family dinners and the simple joy of honey on bread as dessert. In the same spirit, my landscapes reflect places I’ve visited or dreamed of, sometimes literal, sometimes imagined. They’re shaped by my aspirations — my desire to live differently, to make art, to hold onto fleeting moments of happiness.”
Morgan said she uses oil and acrylic paintings to explore the “bright and tender intersection of memory, longing and everyday joy” of life.
“Working in a style I think of as painterly realism, I use thick, expressive layers of paint –sometimes textured, always intentional — to capture the glow and complexity of translucent objects and beloved places,” she said. “Color is essential to my work. I gravitate toward bright, vibrant palettes that evoke feeling and invite viewers into a sense of warmth and familiarity. I want people to feel joy when they look at my paintings — to be reminded of small, beautiful rituals, of family, of travel, of goals once dreamt and maybe even achieved.”
After graduating from the Savanah College of Art and Design, Morgan knew she wanted to do art festivals but didn’t have much direction. An artist she admired told her she should be ‘the Honeybear lady,’ people would remember that. So, she started painting Honeybear after Honeybear and people did remember. Morgan’s hometown of Hoover, AL used the Honeybear for their anti-littering campaign and over 20 Honeybear signs were placed around the city.
When she isn’t traveling, Morgan is teaching art classes in her studio in Bluff Park, AL and volunteering with those with special needs. She recently began working in film and television, working on movie sets, a music video and commercials. Some of her clients include Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, and Kurt Russel.
For more information, visit the International Arts Center’s website. For more information about Morgan, visit jaynemorgan.com.
