A Community in Collage: David Morris’s Digital Symphony

A visual jazz: Music is Community by David Morris, blending abstraction with cultural harmony.

In Music is Community, artist David Morris creates a vibrant digital symphony— an abstract collage alive with rhythm, color and connection. Two figures anchor the composition, surrounded by musical notes, instruments and swirling shapes. They don’t represent individuals so much as entire communities—distinct but united by the invisible thread of sound, creativity and culture. 

A retired commercial photographer whose work once filled Times Square billboards and national ad campaigns, Morris has since transitioned into the world of abstract digital art. His latest work reflects not only his technical mastery but a deep emotional undercurrent shaped by an extensive experience in storytelling,  civic engagement, and jazz. 

Seated in conversation and color: Adrianne Clayton and another guest with Music is Community as their backdrop.

The roots of Music is Community reach into Morris’ years as Chairman of the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City. For years he hoped to bridge the physical and cultural gap between the Crossroads and the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. This piece, he says, is a culmination of that vision—a visual expression of the unifying power of music.

Drawing from his background in digital photography and image retouching, Morris crafts each piece with painterly precision. His process is intuitive, often sparked by the music he listens to while working. “It’s like dancing,” he says. “The music moves through me and guides my hand.” Colors and textures emerge from tones—warm harmonies translate into glowing hues, staccato rhythms into energetic strokes.

Although his compositions may feel dreamlike, Morris describes them more as visions—conceptual emotional maps of how sound takes form. He doesn’t aim to control what the viewers feel, but rather invites them to interpret each piece through their own lens. Like jazz itself, the art is improvised, fluid, and open to discovery.

Morris sees beauty as the common thread in all his creative pursuits—from photography to gardening to public service. Whatever capturing a flower in bloom or a designing landscape of sound, his goal is the same: to share something  beautiful and human. As he puts it, “I retired from photography,  but my creativity didn’t retire.” 

Now represented by Cerbera Gallery and preparing for a solo exhibition at HGA Gallery in Brookside this fall, Morris continues to explore new territory—recently experimenting with animation layered over his digital collages. It’s all part of the journey, he says. “If you don’t explore what’s around the corner, you’ll never find your own limit.”

With Music is Community, Morris offers more than a visual experience. He offers a reminder: that behind every note, every stroke, and pixel there is a chance to connect. That we have far more in common than we often think. And that art —like music— is most powerful when it brings us together.

David Morris, artist and storyteller, channeling the spirit of jazz into digital form.

BIO: Kansas City-based David D. Morris is a retired award-winning commercial and fine art photographer who has transitioned to abstract digital art. For decades, his advertising photography graced global campaigns for major clients like AMC Theaters and Hershey, appearing in publications such as the Kansas City Star and Martha Stewart magazine, even on Times Square billboards.

A graduate of Johnson County Community College’s fine art photography program, David and his wife previously owned Studio 2131. Beyond his artistic pursuits, David is deeply engaged in his community. He’s a former Shawnee City Councilman, Chairman of the Crossroads Arts District, and co-founder of Rebuilding Together Shawnee, earning accolades like the Urban Hero and Shawnee Citizen of the Year awards.

Currently, David’s abstract digital art, inspired by his love for jazz, is represented by the Cerbera Gallery. His intricate process involves weeks of digital development to visually interpret his auditory experiences. He also enjoys gardening, having been featured on the Shawnee Garden Tour multiple times, and remains an avid jazz enthusiast.

Instagram: @dmdakc1

Website:  https://www.dmdakc.com