The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin is currently showcasing an exhibition titled “Nora Naranjo Morse and Eliza Naranjo Morse: Lifelong” as part of a larger project called “In Creative Harmony: Three Artistic Partnerships.” This particular exhibition explores the artistic collaboration between the mother-daughter duo Nora and Eliza Naranjo Morse, along with two other artist pairs.
Nora and Eliza come from a Tewa-speaking Pueblo community in Northern New Mexico, and their art is deeply influenced by their generational ties to this community. “Lifelong” is their first immersive collaborative effort, featuring Eliza’s painted scenes of animal and insect domains surrounding larger-than-life figurative soft sculptures created by Nora. Additionally, a series of prints in the exhibition showcases a collaborative “pass it” game between the two artists, where they exchanged drawings over time, building on each other’s prompts.
One striking aspect of Eliza’s paintings is the central viewer positioning, which allows viewers to share the perspective of the flying creatures in her artworks. For example, in pieces like “Light from Love” and “Heard,” viewers can see colorful shadows, bundles of tools, maps, and supplies carried by the creatures, prompting them to reflect on their own role in the narrative.
In another painting titled “When the Sun Sets Differently,” viewers are placed among a group of insects standing in a circle at sundown around a large ant hill, evoking a sense of both wonder and foreboding. Eliza’s art is not intended to be saccharine but rather presents complex narratives that merge ancestry, lived experiences, and future imaginings, as seen in the thought-provoking piece “With a Gun.”
At the center of the gallery are Nora’s clay sculptures from the series “We Come with Stories,” which reflect her shift towards multimedia art by repurposing materials found on the reservation. These sculptures, along with Eliza’s paintings, create a dynamic interplay between a world of animals and a land of giants, inviting viewers to contemplate their own place in the narrative.
The exhibition “Nora Naranjo Morse and Eliza Naranjo Morse: Lifelong” is on display at the Blanton Museum of Art, the University of Texas at Austin, until July 20. The curator of the exhibition is Hannah Klemm. Visitors can explore the unique collaboration between Nora and Eliza Morse and immerse themselves in a world of vibrant storytelling and cultural exploration.
