Housework Wont Kill You, But Why Take a Chance (2024), oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. All images courtesy of Stephen Morrison and Hashimoto Contemporary, shared with permissionThe Dog Did It! Stephen Morrisons Trompe-lils Brim with Canine CharacterJanuary 16, 2025ArtKate MothesTo say that Stephen Morrisons work is inspired by dogs would be an understatement. Through sculptural assemblages and paintings of puppy faces tucked in foliage or morphing from household items, Morrison evokes the timeless love for our pets.I think Ive always been a bit of a hedonist and kind of set up to love the life of a dog, of doing whatever you want when you want to do it, Morrison recently told Hyperallergic in an interview. Thats why making work with dogs feels so natural because its deeply a part of my character.Every Direction at Once (2025), oil on panel, 20 x 16 inchesMorrison also draws inspiration from his beloved pit bull mix, Tilly, who was the ring bearer at his wedding and died three years ago. Her curious visage lives on in the artists idiosyncratic compositions, bringing expressive life to everything from birdhouses to table lamps.In the artists forthcoming solo exhibition at Hashimoto Contemporary, Morrison continues to channel canine personalities in Dog Show #4: House Broken.Trompe-lil paintings portray the supports on the backs of canvases, teeming with botanicals, stuffed animals, magazine clippings, and fruit. Likewise, a series of sculptures made from epoxy clay, resin, paper, and oil paint appear like assemblages of seemingly disparate items. In Clump Spirit #5 (Study), for example, a puppys face emerges from the front of a violin hanging from a hook, and Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room) displays a happy dog on a TV screen, stacked high with other objects that also feature distinctive eyes and snouts. Everything appears in a state of joyful yet barely contained disarray.Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room) (2024), television, silicone, textile, resin, and epoxy clay, 12 x 21 x 12 inchesThis show reflects on the chaotic messiness of home life, inspired by the lively and dysfunctional environment I grew up in, Morrison says. Our house was filled with dancing, yelling, slapdash crafting, and a constant swirl of half-finished projects. Amid all the noise, there was an odd harmonymoments where the chaos seemed to hum along just right, as if disorder itself had a rhythm.Dog Show #4: House Broken runs from January 18 to February 8 in New York City. Find more on the artists website and Instagram.Build a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul (2024), oil on panel, 24 x 24 inchesClump Spirit #4 (Study) (2025), epoxy clay, paper, resin, and oil paint, 26 x 10 x 5 1/2 inchesThe Council of Plastic Limbs (2025), oil on panel, 24 x 36 inchesClump Spirit #3 (Bedroom) (2025), epoxy clay and oil paint, 15 x 8 x 7 inchesThank You for Your Business (2025), oil on panel, 48 x 36 inchesNext article