ABSTRACT
All his life George L. K. Morris was an unrepentant formalist and an advocate for the cause of abstraction. Morris held steadfast to the artistic mission of control and refinement, and though his artistic contributions were until recently under-recognized, they made a lasting impact upon the history of American abstract art. The permanent collection of the Gallery of Living Art served as a stimulus for Morris's artistic development. For example, his use of deep color and Cubist structure is heavily influenced by the work of Gris, an artist who had been represented in the collection since its inception. Morris himself owned a painting of 1917 by Gris, Still Life with Guitar. Morris's early works, such as Battle of Indians No. 2, 1933, suggest the inspiration of Leger, with whom he had studied in Paris. Morris had become interested in Native American art by 1930s, when he made trips to Santa Fe and was exposed to Native American art and culture.
