Artist: Burton Morris
Title: Monkey Business
Medium: Screenprint with diamond dust
Paper Size: 91.4 x 91.4 cm
Year: 2015
Edition Size: 80
Unframed

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### Monkey Business


One of the most famous movie icons is without doubt the bold and daring King Kong. This giant gorilla first appeared in film in 1933 and has since inspired countless remakes, sequels, cartoons, novels and video games.

Burton's take on this icon departs from the fearful monster or tragic anti-hero and presents a lighter more familiar version, aptly titled "Monkey Business".

As a child, Burton often recalls watching early cartoons on TV of playful and mischievous monkeys and sought to bring some of that jovial spirit to this new creation.

Monkey Business presents to us a gorilla that is playful and fun engaged in climbing the Empire State Building. The glimmer in his eyes and the smile on his lips are reminiscent of a naughty child, thus evoking a smile to all who view this new creation!

### ABOUT BURTON MORRIS




A lot has been written about Burton Morris and the fact that he was born in the same place as Andy Warhol, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but this fact sometimes distracts the reader from the real issue, which is......Burton Morris.



In a world where artists are increasingly "delegating" more and more of their work to studio employees, it is so refreshing to find an artist who still believes in creating his own artwork in its entirety and Burton Morris is such an artist, a perfectionist.



Burton's style is very simply, POP! It is a continuation of a passion and commitment that started with the greats, such as Warhol, Lichtenstein and Haring, and that Morris has faithfully followed through with, whilst of course stamping his own unique style and presentation on.



Simplicity is far too often not recognized as a wonderful talent, with society in general calling for ever more complex products and processes to wax lyrical about the producer's ability. History tells us though that it is the simple things in life which are the best and tend to have longevity, Andy Warhol's depiction of Marilyn Monroe or Campbell's soup cans being a prime example.



It is at this level that Morris' artwork delivers time and time again. At first glance his work may indeed appear too simple, but as with all great artwork, one needs time to reflect upon it and to be drawn into it and almost become part of it. Perhaps the most brilliant and famous artist ever summed it up best when he said: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," the artist - Leonardo da Vinci.



Burton Morris the man, is very un-artist like in as much that there is no bravado, no ego to assuage, just a very normal talented man who has chosen to share his passion and endless talent with the world. This happy go lucky humbleness comes through in his artwork and forces the viewer to enjoy the piece for what it is and what it does... Which is that it makes you smile and feel good! Burton is a devout family man and has given his time and work generously to charity throughout his career, in a genuine desire to help other people who are less fortunate.





Spend any length of time with Burton at all and you cannot help but be enthralled and captivated by the man himself. His boundless enthusiasm is like an elixir for life, joyful with youthful motivation and it's contagious! All this is absolutely natural and genuine which is what makes it so refreshing and a real pleasure to have a conversation with one of the world`s leading Pop artists.



There is a reason why Burton's career is in its third decade and here is the secret of all successful artists, they all have the ability to continuously produce original artwork, to evolve and adapt.



Given this it is easy to understand the body of work that Burton has accumulated over his career and the fact that some of the top global names have found the need to own it or be associated with it.



Once again Morris has trodden a well established path to excellence with work for Absolut Vodka and the Jazz Montreux Festival on his CV in keeping with the greats such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring before him. When the Academy Awards needed to revamp their image, it was to Burton Morris that that they turned with his larger than life Pop images taking the "Oscars" into the 21st century and engaging people with the historic awards ceremony and Pop Art simultaneously.



From heads of state, such as Nicolas Sarkozy of France, to the royalty of Hollywood and the likes of Oprah Winfrey, from Chanel to Kelloggs, Burton has served them all.



Be in no doubt that that this is an artist of enormous talent and versatility and that the only way for him to continue is upwards, but as with all things, the individual must be convinced and in Morris' own words, his art simply speaks for itself!



Burton is constantly having his artwork exhibited around the world and the artist was commissioned to produce a series of paintings for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, where the resultant 36 piece exhibition was shown.



In 2013 this exhibition was shown in New York and in Asia for the very first time in Singapore. This was an exhibition where Burton's skill and insight was and is clearly displayed, where the ancient games of the Olympics meets and melds with 21st century Pop Art! Only Burton Morris could make this work so easily.



The price of Burton's work has more than doubled over the past five years, no mean feat for a living artist and because that increase has been progressive, the strength of his pricing is open to far more scrutiny than some of his peers.

Artwork should always be purchased because of the connection that the viewer has with the piece, and therefore the artist, and because it's emotive not because it's an investment diversification. However, it would be naïve not to realize that in today's world, as in days gone by to be fair, value is not unimportant. In this regard there are many that still believe Burton's work to be undervalued and still represents a solid investment opportunity.



Only the individual can (and should) ultimately make that determination as fortune telling is a mythical art, but rest assured, there are far worse ways to invest your money!