Jan Huling

With her background in commercial design, Jan Huling cultivates a remarkable artistic practice transforming everyday objects into wonderfully whimsical works of art. Her beadwork heightens our experience of shape, color, and form. Her visual storytelling transports us to a fantastic world where fairy tales, myths, and mystery collide. Under her steady hand, prefabricated forms are remade through an organic process that unfolds without premeditation. Every available surface becomes covered in elaborate patterns of beadwork transforming found objects into gem-like masterpieces.

On view throughout the Morris Museum are provocative works from Huling’s pandemic project, Everything is Alive. In this gallery, observe how the artist merges utilitarian items with animal forms—as if to imbue life into ordinary objects. Explore the exchange between what she calls “spectacular, meaningful, hypnotic works of art” and our Guinness Gallery and Native American Gallery collections. Encounter unexpected explosions of color and texture in the adjacent Mansion Galleries, Museum Court, and the upper-level second floor balcony. Everything is Alive is a journey into worlds filled with creativity, play, and wonder.

Leadership support for this exhibition is provided by Michele and Martin Cohen and The Dawson Family.

Neiman Marcus in collaboration with the Morris Museum presents a selection of works by artist Jan Huling. The centerpiece, The Gown: Affinity on display from March 4 to April 8 joins other work by the artist in the Neiman Marcus Short Hills private gallery space from March 11 to 22. These installations coincide with the exhibition Jan Huling: Everything is Alive at the Morris Museum.

Image Credits: Jan Huling, Das Bug; 2015; Fiberglass substrate, Czech glass beads, mixed media; Photo courtesy the artist.