Houston – Art has a way of serving as a creative outlet, and for DJ Morrow, it’s been a way to commemorate his unconventional past of being raised in an international cult.
DJ Morrow’s story starts in a place few would imagine — a religious group that in it’s height, had over 10,000 members across the globe. After his departure, he decided to take the steps to reclaim his life as a young adult. Starting over wasn’t easy, Morrow wrestled with the emotional baggage of his past. He needed a way to process everything he’d been through, and that’s when he found something surprising: balloon art.
“In the cult that I grew up in, jobs were heavily discouraged. Being beholden to an employer didn’t really fit with the high control that the cult tried to maintain.” Morrow says unconventional like selling literature, busking with music and dancing, and balloon twisting were well-respected. It’s how his parents got by.
Years later, Morrow decided to get into the art of balloon twisting but he isn’t making your average balloon animals. He creates larger-than-life sculptures following themes he has experienced in life. A lot of his work has Biblical undertones and follows several stories from the Bible.
His next exhibit, “Out of the Strong, Something Sweet”, is a powerful reflection of his journey. The title, inspired by the biblical story of Samson, speaks to finding strength and sweetness even when life gets tough. Opening this month, the exhibit features vibrant balloon sculptures that tell different parts of Morrow’s story. One standout piece is a massive painting of a heart with honeycomb.
Morrow’s hope? That his art does more than just wow people — it inspires them. He says he wants to see other artists “taking similar paths and internalizing their own experiences with art.”
You can see these fine art sculptures up close at DJ’s next free exhibit “Out of the strong, Something Sweet” at the The Jung Center from August 19 to the 24. On the final day, he’s hosting a conversation about the exhibit and his journey with balloons at 2 p.m.
Check out his previous work and get in contact with him here.