ROBERT MORGAN

Artist & LGBTQ activist

Artist and activist Robert Morgan was born in Taylor County in 1950. His sculptures are constructed from found and recycled materials and are known for their rich social commentary. His striking and colorful pieces often resemble, or actually utilize, figures -- such as dolls or figurines -- to suggest ideas that are typically political and autobiographical.

Apart from the artist’s studio work, Morgan is famously compassionate and generous. As a member of the LGBTQ community, nearly 70, he has spoken a lot about the many battles with AIDS and drug addiction he’s witnessed over the decades. He has lost friends and family members, and much of his work aims to raise awareness of these types of struggles in the community. In an interview with Lexington’s Herald-Leader, Robert admitted that he freely gives people his phone number if they need someone to talk to, and lamented all of “the calls” of bad news he’s received over the years. He tells a story about the early years of the AIDS epidemic when families and clinics were turning people away and refusing to care for them: “we were renting apartments and putting beds in them just for people to go and die.” 

Even still, Robert continues to use his art and his activism to fight for fairness, justice, and awareness. Furthermore, the Morehead University alumnus has played an integral part in chronicling and preserving the history of Kentucky’s LGBTQ community through the Faulkner-Morgan Archive. Named in honor of Robert Morgan and the late Henry Faulkner -- Robert’s mentor and fellow queer, Kentuckian artist -- the archive was established in 2014 by Morgan and historian Jonathan Coleman. Their collection includes over 100 hours of recorded material and more than 12,000 items, dating back to the 18th century. The entire archive is curated by Morgan and Coleman and is meant to preserve and promote the art and stories of Kentucky’s LGBTQ past, present, and future.