Ree Morton: The Plant That Heals May Also Poison

“A poetic approach to language and symbolism progressively distanced her work from easy categorization,” says Kate Kraczon, Laporte Associate Curator at The Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia and curator of the exhibition. “The inclusion of personal narrative—through literary, philosophical, and autobiographical references—and set of bold color and theatrical imagery infused her objects with sly humor and a concern with the decorative, generating a feminist legacy increasingly appreciated in retrospect. Morton’s conceptually rigorous work can seem esoteric at times, yet her intention is ultimately one of generosity towards the viewer, and it is in this spirit of generosity, playfulness, and joy that this exhibition hopes to expand.”

Morton received her BFA from the University of Rhode Island in 1968 and an MFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in 1970. During her lifetime, her work was exhibited at Artists Space, New York (1973); the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (1974); and the South Street Seaport Museum, New York (1975). She was twice included in the Whitney Biennial, once in 1973 and again in 1977. She has since had retrospectives at the New Museum, New York (1980); the Generali Foundation, Vienna (2008); the Drawing Center, New York (2009); and the Reina Sofia, Madrid (2015).