Ike Morgan: Looking Presidential: Online Exclusive

Ricco/Maresca is pleased to present an online exhibition of Ike Morgan's presidential portraits in partnership with Webb Gallery in Waxahachie, Texas. Launching on Election Day, this exhibition captures the weight of history and the enduring power of the office as the nation once again stands at the crossroads of choice.

•••

Ike E. Morgan, born in 1958 in Rockdale, Texas, was diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia and has spent much of his life producing hauntingly vibrant portraits. At 17, following a psychotic episode, he was admitted to the Austin State Hospital, where he remained until age 42.

During his time at the hospital, Morgan found solace in painting, using the facility’s rolling library as a source of inspiration. Art became his way of communicating—a private language through which he connected with the world around him. His favorite reference has always been The Book of Presidents, a source that sparked his enduring fascination with historical portraiture. This interest, he says, goes back to high school history class, where he’d sit in the back, drawn to faces from the past. In the hospital, the image of George Washington on dollar bills used to buy pizza and hot wings became a powerful anchor, both a symbol and a literal lifeline.

Since leaving the hospital, Morgan has continued an evolving series of presidential portraits, alongside other subjects like the Mona Lisa, birds, and musicians from his cherished record collection—including Rick James and The Emotions. Recently, he’s been captivated by characters from vintage Westerns on his ever-running television.

Morgan works in series, producing between three and twenty portraits based on his current materials and focus. He starts each series with ink pen sketches, layering colors in stages until all pieces reach completion simultaneously in a final flourish.

Over the years, Morgan's work has gained recognition, including a commission from Newsweek during George W. Bush’s second election campaign. His art has been featured in prominent exhibitions, such as Jean Dubuffet’s Collection de l’Art Brut in Lausanne and the Museum of American Folk Art in New York. Major institutions like the Pompidou Museum in Paris, the Blanton Museum at the University of Texas, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum also house his work.

Until 2020, Morgan lived independently with a close friend and roommate. Following his friend’s passing and the isolation brought by COVID-19, he required more assistance and now resides in a nursing facility. Yet, his commitment to art remains unshaken; he paints daily, channeling his inner world in visual form.

For Morgan, art is more than an occupation—it’s a form of resilience and self-expression, a testament to where his mind and heart are in each moment. Through color, design, and layers of paint, he shares his vision with the world, driven by a belief in the healing power of creativity.

“It’s nice to do a little work and make people happy sometime,” he says—simple yet profound words that capture the spirit behind each stroke of his brush.

JULIE WEBB