STATEMENT
“If I could say in words, there would be no reason to paint.“ -Edward Hopper
This new fashion for asking a visual artist to write an artist statement in words is equivalent to asking a poet or novelist to paint an image of what they are writing. For me feeling and empathizing with the image should be all that is necessary for understanding the work. The piece was made to be communicated visually and not explained in mere words. I feel the principal of my art is not to portray but to evoke. Some of my submissions are from a series of blues inspired by themes. The past few years created a need for the comfort of the musical and dance manner that is offered in that realm. It is the fire in the soul lurking behind and beneath, the clinical coolness that is so cathartic to me. I am thankful for my classical training. It has rewarded me with many hundreds of representational sculptural portrait commissions in bronze as well as portrait paintings and murals, however, I have continuously created works expressing my own personal visions in a more abstract and expressionistic manner. In many of my personal three-dimensional works I elevate the discarded and overlooked to the avant-garde. My work includes found scrap metal, wood, stone, ceramic and glass.
BIOGRAPHY
Morris Docktor is an American artist born in Philadelphia. He studied classically at The Pennsylvania. Academy of The Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Temple University’s Tyler college of Art. He has worked continuously for over 5 decades fulfilling sculpture, murals, and portrait commissions for private, academic, corporate, and public patrons. His commissioned art work is articulated in an honest and romantic sensibility. He has been sought for his skill and acumen in portraiture and figure rendering in sculpture as well as mural painting. Morris Docktor’s sculptures, murals, and portraits reflect his representational mastery, but he also revels in abstraction, and when creating his own personal art he embraces abstract expression.
Significant commissions:
1. Historic Society of Roebling NJ. – Life size
standing bronze figure of Charles Roebling for Public Square.
2. Roebling Museum – Life size bronze head and bust of Charles Roebling on permanent exhibition.
3. New York Life Insurance Monitor Capital- Two Bronze figures, Bull and Bear.
4. Philadelphia Flower Show convention center – Monumental Garden Sculpture in the form of a ancient Greek Tempietto.
5. Bernardsville NJ -Bronze and stone pineapple, privately commissioned exterior garden sculpture.
6. Rockefeller commission- Winged Puto and Fish for private gardens, being proposed for public park gift.
7. Conger collection – Bronze Memorial of Lion and Butterfly. Princeton, NJ.
8. Sculptural wall mural, copper, brass, aluminum- Wesley enhanced Senior living community. Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
9. Portrait Bust study – clay to bronze of Abraham Lincoln Illinois School District Exhibition history.
I have exhibited in – Alumni exhibitions at the Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts. I have exhibited in the Fellowship organization of PAFA. I have exhibited in many of the Juried exhibitions at the Ellarslie Museum, Trenton NJ. I have been awarded prizes twice at the Trenton Elarslie Museum open juried exhibition. I have been awarded best in show at the Cheltenham Art Center Exhibition. I am the first artist in 96 years to be awarded a prize for both sculpture and painting at the same Phillip’s Mill juried show in New Hope Pa.
2025
Morris Docktor
Visual Artist
Tragic Opera
Morris Docktor, Oil, 16 x 16
On Point
Morris Docktor, Copper, 16 x 11 x 4
Commissioned clay modeling for portrait sculpture
Morris Docktor, Oil-based Clay, 16 x 11 x 11
Dance
Morris Docktor, Charcoal and White Chalk on Cotton Fiber Paper, 24 x 18 x 1
Spanish Shawl
Morris Docktor, Oil, 24 x 30 x 1
STATEMENT
“If I could say in words, there would be no reason to paint.“ by Edward Hopper
It has intrigued me that visual artists are asked to write an artist’s statement, but poets are not asked to paint a visual image of what their poem is about. Nonetheless, I will respectfully try to assemble a statement, since it is a requirement of this submission.
I feel the principal of my art is not to portray but to evoke.
BIOGRAPHY
Morris Docktor is an American artist born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Ph 609-213-2158 morrisdocktorartist@yahoo.com www.artavita.com/artists/16 Morrisdocktorartistcom Education Docktor studied classically at The Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BFA Experience He has worked continuously for over 5 decades fulfilling Sculpture ,Murals , and Portrait commissions for private, academic, corporate, and public patrons. His commissioned art work is articulated in an honest and romantic sensibility. He has been sought for his skill and acumen in portraiture and figure rendering in sculpture as well as mural painting. Morris Docktor’s sculptures, murals, and portraits reflect his representational mastery, but he also revels in the expression of abstract forms when commissioned to complement modern buildings and in his personal work. Significant commissions: 1. Historic Society of Roebling NJ – Life size standing bronze figure of Charles Roebling for Public Square. 2. Roebling Museum – Life size bronze head and bust of Charles Roebling on permanent exhibition. 3. New York Life Insurance Monitor Capital – Two Bronze figures, Bull and Bear. 4. Philadelphia Flower Show convention center – Monumental Garden Sculpture in the form of an ancient Greek Tempieta. 5. Bernardsville NJ – Bronze and stone pineapple.