BIO

Christine Morla is perhaps best known for her labor-intensive installations made up of hundreds of small weavings, painted paper and found materials. Initially inspired by the Philippine banig (a handwoven style of mat used in East Asia and the Philippines for sleeping and sitting), Morla’s works explore various cultural signifiers, mapping landscapes while simultaneously expressing a longing for identity by attempting to merge disparate selves. Morla’s recent works reflect her current experimentations with color, texture, and material as well as her longstanding connection to weaving and its relationship to Modernist painting. Morla is interested in exploring the crossovers of art, craft and design while utilizing various channels of compositions.

Morla graduated with a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University and received her M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at Art Frankfurt(Germany), Rimjaus Gallery(Mexico City), The Armory Show(New York), Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, Torrance Art Museum, Riverside Art Museum, Huntington Beach Art Center, Raid Projects, Jaus (Los Angeles) and 18th Street Arts Center (Santa Monica) among other venues.

Morla’s work has been featured in various publications including New American Paintings, Beautiful Decay Magazine, The Herald News, Artweek, Santa Barbara News Press and the Ventura County Star among others. Morla has been an artist-in-residence at Painting’s Edge in Idyllwild, First Street Art Gallery (Claremont) and Carnegie Art Museum Studio Gallery(Oxnard).

Morla has taught in many established art departments and programs throughout Southern California, including Loyola Marymount University, California State University-Channel Islands, Cerritos College, Mount San Antonio College, Armory Center for the Arts and First Street Gallery. Currently, she is the head of the Studio Art Program and Professor of Art at Oxnard College as well as the Director of the McNish Art Gallery.