Rebecca Morris: Seattle-based Writer & Journalist Exploring Themes of Mystery & the Unseen
Rebecca Morris, born in Corvallis, Oregon in 1969, is a Seattle-based writer and journalist whose artistic explorations delve into themes of mystery and the unseen—a preoccupation that extends beyond her creative endeavors. Growing up amidst the fertile landscapes of Oregon instilled in her a deep appreciation for natural beauty, yet it was also shaped by the legacy of her father, James ‘Jimmie’ Morris, a pioneering radio broadcaster who established KOAC in 1932, marking an early foray into media and storytelling. This familial influence undoubtedly contributed to her later success as a journalist and novelist.
Morris pursued her education at Oregon State University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, followed by a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Brown University. Her academic grounding provided her with invaluable tools for crafting narratives—a skill she honed through freelance work for publications like *The Oregonian*, *Bloomberg Radio*, *CNN*, and *Fox News*, alongside contributions to literary magazines such as *People*, *Entertainment Weekly*, *New York Daily News*, *American Theatre,* and *The Seattle Times*. This diverse journalistic experience cultivated her ability to observe, analyze, and communicate complex ideas with clarity and grace.
Her debut novel, *Ted & Ann: The Mystery of a Missing Child and Her Neighbor Ted Bundy*, published independently in 2011 by Dog Ear Publishing and subsequently released as an ebook in 2013, cemented her reputation as a storyteller captivated by unsettling narratives—particularly those centered around true crime. This project showcased Morris’s talent for weaving suspenseful tales while grappling with profound questions about human psychology and morality. The book's success garnered considerable attention and solidified her position within the genre.
Morris’s artistic practice centers on painting, characterized by a distinctive visual language that prioritizes subtle color palettes—often favoring muted shades of gray and black—and geometric forms—primarily circles and squares—to convey emotional depth and psychological resonance. Her canvases are frequently imbued with an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, inviting viewers to consider unspoken narratives and hidden connections. Influenced by Minimalism and Conceptual Art movements, she strives to distill visual experience into its purest essence—a deliberate rejection of ornamentation in favor of intellectual engagement. She avoids describing subject matter as she does not want to dictate what interpretations her painted forms may elicit. Her artistic process may be characterized as fluid and spontaneous. Inspired by craft and decoration, Morris explores the idiosyncrasy and imperfection of the artist’s hand. “I was always interested in creating systems and plan-type drawings,” she said in a 2014 interview. “As a child, I drew floor plans of split-level houses, and plans for cities and towns. I also drew imaginary family trees, which were based on a grid-like system, but they featured cat families instead of people families.”
Morris’s influences include Raoul De Keyser, Joan Mitchell, James Meyer, and Terry Riley—artists who championed abstraction and challenged conventional artistic conventions. Her work has been recognized internationally with awards from The Guggenheim Fellowship (2008), The California Community Foundation (2013), The City of Los Angeles, COLA Award (2013), Tiffany Foundation (1999), The Durfee Foundation (2005), Art Matters (1996), and The Illinois Arts Council (1996). Her paintings have been exhibited in prominent museums across the globe, including The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; Art Institute of Chicago; Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Sammlung Goetz, Munich, Germany; Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, Netherlands; and DePaul Art Museum, Chicago. Rebecca Morris continues to produce compelling artwork that speaks to the complexities of human experience—a testament to her unwavering dedication to storytelling and artistic innovation.
