‘Sweet dreams’ artist Jayne Morgan honored at International Arts Center
Published 4:34 pm Friday, August 22, 2025
The International Arts Center’s recent reception honoring artist Jayne Morgan and her exhibit, “Sweet Dreams,” attracted a large number of art enthusiasts, including university students, who were attracted to Morgan’s boldly colorful, seemingly simple artwork.
They were also amazed, a.k.a. “envious,” one student said, of Morgan’s lifestyle.
She travels across the country in her 1964 Airstream trailer, showcasing her oil and acrylic paintings of landscapes, flowers in jars and her signature subject, the Honeybear.
Morgan said as she grew up, the bear-shaped honey bottle was a staple of the family dinner table.
“Each object and place carry a story, a dream, or a fragment of nostalgia,” Morgan said. “These images are not just still lives or scenes, they are emotional landmarks. The honey bears, for example, are more than just playful containers; they’re tied to a ritual of family dinners and the simple joy of honey on bread as dessert.
“In the same spirit, my landscapes reflect places I’ve visited or dreamed of, sometimes literal, sometimes imagined. They’re shaped by my aspirations – my desire to live differently, to make art, to hold onto fleeting moments of happiness.
“Color is essential to my work. I gravitate toward bright, vibrant palettes that evoke feeling and invite viewers into a sense of warmth and familiarity. I want people to feel joy when they look at my paintings — to be reminded of small, beautiful rituals, of family, of travel, of goals once dreamt and maybe even achieved.
When Morgan isn’t traveling, she is teaching art classes in her studio in Bluff Park, Alabama and volunteering with those with special needs. She recently began working in film and television, working on movie sets, a music video and commercials. Some of her clients include Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, and Kurt Russel.
