Kenn Morgan M.A.
Emeritus Professor of Fine Arts; Director of Renner Art Gallery
Visual & Performing Arts
Phillips Johnson Visual Arts Center, Room 304
Visual & Performing Arts
Professor Kenn Morgan has taught visual art at Bethany since 1989.
He teaches two-dimensional art (drawing, painting, design and printmaking) as well as Art History (Renaissance through Post Modernism) at his Alma Mater which has resulted in his being named to Who’s Who in America Teachers, elected Professor of the Year, and awarded the Distinguished Faculty Member Award by Bethany’s Alumni Council in 2002.
His love of travel, combined with his passion for teaching and working with students, has taken him to Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy to teach numerous times. He has also accompanied Bethanians to Spain, Dominica (West Indies), Paris, London, and the Galapagos Islands. He is an active studio artist frequently exhibiting his artwork in group, solo and invitational shows and is represented in collections in Chicago, Durham, N.C., Houston, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Portsmouth and Norfolk, Va.
A resident of Bethany, Kenn Morgan is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and has special affection for his beloved dogs.
He has owned Art on the Side since 1987 and has previously worked for Wheeling College (1987), Oglebay Institute (1975-1978), and Ogden Newspaper (1974-1975).
He enjoyed creating art as a child with much family classmate support but it was really the passion and support of Wes Wagner, Bethany College Art Instructor during his undergraduate years that changed his professional interests from dentistry to art.
Education
B.A., Visual Arts, Bethany College (1971)
Art Institute of Pittsburgh (Visual Communications) (1971-72)
M.A., Arts, WVU (1973)
Certificate in Arts Management, North Carolina State University (1976-78)
Study of Printmaking and Art History, University of Texas San Antonio at the Santa Reparta Art Centre in Florence Italy, (1993)
Areas of Passion & Research
World travel focusing on art and architecture
Personal Interests
Travel, art and dogs
Favorite Quote, Book, or Movie … Why?
Book: “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
Movie: “The Wizard of Oz”
Quote: “Ancora impero ” (I am still learning), Michelangelo age 87
Fun facts
He is a collector of Mickey Mouse memorabilia with over 1000 pieces in his collection.
Volunteer Work
- Search Committee, 2018, 1998
- Curriculum Committee, 2000-2011; 2016-present
- Academic Standards Committee, 1990-2012
- Faculty Development Committee, 1998-2000
- Long Range Planning Committee, 1998-2000
- Black History Committee, 1997-2000
- Alumni Council, 1992-2001
- Kappa Phi Advisor, 2002-present
- Sigma Nu Fraternity Advisor (Epsilon Chapter), 1992-2008
- Designed Development and Alumni brochure and direct mail, 1989-2008
- Designed Allison Run t-shirts, 2000-present
- Redecorated Faculty Lounge (Steinman Hall) 2016
- Relay for Life Advisor 2012-present
- Love Your Melon Advisor, 2016-present
Selected Exhibitions
- “Sacred and Profane,” Towngate Theatre Gallery, 2018
- “Treasures of Memory,” Bethany College, 2016
- “There’s Something About Marian: A Marian Installation,” Bethany College, 2016
- “A Sense of Place,” Huntington Galleries, 2013
- “Unframed and Installed”, 2012, 2013
- “A Show of Hands,” Bethany College, 2012
- “Science Becomes ART: A Galapagos Islands Experience,” 2011