Morgan Stokes (b1990), is an emerging Australian artist based in Sydney. His practice spans painting, sculpture, and installation, characterized by a deep engagement with the materiality of art and the intersections between physical and digital experiences. Stokes holds a Master of Design from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which has significantly informed his approach to blending traditional techniques with contemporary digital concepts
Stokes’ work is heavily focused on the tension between tangible materials and the increasingly virtual nature of human perception. His concept of the "virtual gaze" explores how art is mediated through digital screens, transforming the way we experience and understand physical artworks
This is reflected in his use of materials like stitched silk organza, polyester fabrics, and metals, which reveal the structural elements of his pieces—turning the process of creation itself into a subject for contemplation.
His exhibitions, including a recent show in Sydney, delve into themes of creation and decay, where he reduces art to its essential forms—highlighting stretcher bars, raw fabrics, and visible stitch work. This approach emphasizes the raw physicality of the medium while questioning how art is consumed in an era dominated by digital images
By stripping away conventional aesthetics, Stokes creates works that are as much about absence as they are about presence, inviting viewers to engage with the space and materiality of each piece.
Morgan Stokes continues to challenge the boundaries of art, using his minimalist yet conceptually rich practice to explore the evolving nature of materiality and perception. His work invites viewers to reflect on the subtle interplay between reality and its digital representations, offering a nuanced meditation on the essence of art in the 21st century.