Meet Amuri Morris, The Winner of The iCanvas 2020 Art Scholarship
We’re thrilled to announce Amuri Morris of Virginia Commonwealth University as the winner of our 2020 scholarship!
Four years ago, we created the iCanvas Art Scholarship to further our overarching goal of empowering young creators and connecting them with more art appreciators. Each year since, we have enthusiastically awarded talented young artists like Amuri $1,000 to help develop their craft and pursue their passion.
Once again, we were honored to receive several incredible submissions from young artists all over the country. And we are extremely impressed with the skill, detail and message that went into Amuri Morris’ winning piece, “Our Lady.”
Read on to learn more about Amuri, her winning submission, and her inspiration and goals.
What is your expected year of graduation?
2022.
What are you currently studying at school?
I am currently studying “Painting and Printmaking” in addition to “Business Management/ Entrepreneurship.”
What is the name of the piece you submitted?
The name of this piece is “Our Lady.”
Why did you choose to submit this piece?
I chose to submit this piece because I was very pleased with the color composition and rendering. It also embodied a lot of themes I’m interested in exploring. With this piece, I’m looking at the dialect between a history of aristocratic representation and the use of portraiture as a statement of power. Here I elevate this figure to a level of high culture that is classically unavailable to her because of her place as a black female. I paint her with such surety so that her place and regalness are unquestioned.
Why do you love art?
I love art because it’s my vehicle for my journey of personal exploration and discovery. The paintbrush in my hand allows the boundary between the imaginary and reality to fade away. I also love that artistic creativity isn’t stagnant, it looks beyond what’s there and sees what could be.
What or who inspired you to pursue art?
My own life experiences have inspired me to pursue art. I’ve always had a connection with art to express my innermost feelings, my lived reality as an African-American woman, and the world around me.
Why do you feel it’s important people surround themselves with art they love?
It’s important for people to surround themselves with art they love because of how energizing it is! Art is a powerful tool to inspire oneself, heal, and feel connected to the themes it depicts
What’s next for you in your artistic journey?
As I continue to develop my craft, my next step is to begin to circulate my work in the art world! Part of this includes becoming more involved in the art community and various art events, particularly in my local area.
We are certain Amuri will continue to grow into an amazing artist, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her. To view more of Amuri’s art and follow her journey, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
To see more of our favorite submissions to this year’s iCanvas scholarship, click here.
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