Morgan Fisher (artist)

Morgan Fisher (born 1942 in Los Angeles, California) is an American experimental filmmaker, painter, and artist known for his structural films and meticulous deconstructions of cinematic conventions. His work often examines the material properties of film, the illusionistic nature of cinema, and the relationship between the viewer and the image.

Fisher studied art and art history at Harvard University. He began making films in the late 1960s, initially working in a style influenced by structural filmmaking. His early films frequently explored the physical aspects of the film medium, such as the sprockets, the film grain, and the editing process. He is known for his rigorous and analytical approach, often incorporating direct address to the audience, intertitles, and self-reflexive techniques.

Notable films by Fisher include Picture and Sound Rushes (1973), a film that explores the relationship between the visual and auditory components of cinema; Scratch Film (1968), a film made by directly scratching the emulsion; and Production Stills (1970), which examines the staged nature of behind-the-scenes photographs.

In addition to filmmaking, Fisher has also produced paintings and other visual art. His artistic practice often reflects similar concerns to his filmmaking, engaging with concepts of representation, perception, and the construction of meaning. He has exhibited his work internationally and is considered an important figure in experimental cinema and contemporary art. Fisher has also taught filmmaking at several universities. His work is part of the permanent collections of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.