Artist and illustrator Morgan Elliott channels a lifetime of creativity into vibrant work that feels alive.
Words
Amy Thurston
@amytkc
Artist
Morgan Elliott
@thewildpeachstudio
morganelliott.co
inutes—maybe seconds—into a phone call with artist and illustrator Morgan Elliott, there’s an immediate sense of saturation: energy, movement, words tumbling over one another. Then you see her work, and everything clicks. Dense with color and alive with motion, her art seems to leap off the screen, wall, or canvas.
Elliott was raised in a family where art was the native language. Her mother is a stained-glass artist; one of her grandmothers, a ceramicist. By the age of three, Elliott was already filling notebooks with drawings—often fashionable women with oversized eyes. She grew up on a ranch in Wellsville, Kansas, surrounded by wide skies and creative influence in equal measure.
After high school, she was encouraged to pursue a BFA in graphic design—an education that would allow her to remain an artist while offering practical flexibility. It’s a decision she remains deeply grateful for. Shortly after graduating, Elliott began working at Hallmark. While the role was both rewarding and challenging, it clarified something essential: she had a distinct point of view. Trusting her instincts, she stepped out on her own.
The work followed quickly. Elliott creates patterns for the baby clothing company Raising Mama and serves as head illustrator for the wildly popular We Rate Dogs. She’s also an in-demand muralist—and once you’ve seen one of her murals, you won’t forget it. Joyful, kinetic, and color-saturated, her large-scale works are instantly recognizable, delivering powerful brand storytelling with an unmistakable sense of fun.
Her first mural was in her home office: a teal, peach, and fuchsia wall filled with tall green vines, bright yellow flowers, and the night sky adorned with the moon and stars—an ideal backdrop for an artist looking to spark creativity.
One of her favorite commercial murals is featured at Milk & Honey Ranch in Burton, Texas.
“The scale and extreme conditions it took to complete this made for an extra challenging process, but in the end, the reward was worth it,” she says.
Weather is a large factor in Elliott’s process, so from late March to early November, her calendar is filled with outdoor mural work.
But no matter which month it is, she says, “Art can’t be forced, I really have to find the inspiration inside myself.”
That source seems to overflow with vibrant bounty, as Elliott describes her work as “happy, full of movement and color, with powerful brand representation.”
Plenty of new projects are on the horizon, many aligning seamlessly with her vibrant style—though for now, they remain under wraps.
Like many prolific artists, Elliott says one of her biggest challenges is staying organized enough to fully monetize her output. Her Notes app has replaced the sketchbooks of her childhood, and while the subject matter has evolved beyond big-eyed women, the creative stream remains constant. It’s a pace she embraces—and one that continues to fuel work that feels as alive as the artist herself.
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