Meet Brian Morris

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Morris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always loved helping others grow and succeed. But over time, I realized my own value—my experience, my vision, my commitment—deserved that same energy in return.

I didn’t start my business to chase status. I started it to create from the heart, to build something sustainable, and to make sure my work was respected, not just used. I wanted freedom, truth, and enough support to keep creating with purpose.

This journey is about honoring what I have learned, expanded, discovered —and staying true to what I know has meaning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is grounded in a lifelong study of world art history and a reverence for the human figure as a vessel of truth. Across cultures and centuries, the body has served as both subject and symbol—holding stories of power, oppression, divinity, and resistance. Through photography, I continue that lineage, focusing not on fleeting beauty or commercial ideals, but on the human footprint—what we leave behind, what we carry forward, and how we define our presence in the world.

My art is not surface-driven. It is informed, intentional, and steeped in tradition. Years of examining global visual languages—from ancient iconography to classical composition, to avant-garde disruption—taught me to see the body as archive, altar, and battlefield. This perspective guides every frame I create. The figure, for me, is where spirit meets form. It is where truth hides in plain sight.

The path to where I am today has not been easy. Refusing to follow commercial formulas, I’ve chosen instead to protect the soul of my work. There were years of struggle, of watching the industry try to mute or commodify what I knew was sacred. But through persistence and clarity of vision, I remained rooted. I’ve learned that authenticity must be non-negotiable, and that art only has value when it honors the truth of its origin.

Under the name NEYE, I create photographs and visual narratives that function as testimony. They bear witness to what is often ignored or forgotten: the quiet strength of the human form, the cost of survival, and the profound resilience found in our scars. My work is not made for distraction—it is made for remembrance. For restoration. For re-seeing the world through a lens that does not flinch.

I do not make art to decorate. I make art to reveal to future humans what we did here during our time on earth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my best friend rolls into town, the first thing we do is hit Venice Beach. There’s no better way to land in LA than feeling the ocean breeze and watching the chaos of street performers and skateboarders weaving along the boardwalk. We grab lunch at The Erwin, perched on the rooftop with a view of the endless Pacific. The air smells like salt and sunscreen, and you can’t help but soak in the easy California cool. Afterward, wandering through the Venice canals feels like stepping into a secret little world — colorful houses, ducks paddling around, and murals that seem to whisper stories about this place’s history.

A day with art and ocean follows. We find ourselves at the Getty Museum, where the architecture itself is a masterpiece, and the collection is a kind of time machine through centuries of creativity. The gardens stretch out, and the view of the city below is a quiet reminder of the sprawling metropolis just beyond the museum’s walls. Later, the drive to Santa Monica winds along the coast, and by evening, we’re eating fresh lobster at Lobster on the pier. The sun dips behind the waves, and laughter from tourists mixes with the calls of seagulls.

The third day feels more electric, with art on one side and Hollywood’s pulse on the other. We start at Hauser & Wirth in West Hollywood, where contemporary art pieces challenge and inspire. Lunch at Pinches Tacos is lively and unpretentious — the kind of food that punches you in the face with flavor. A quick hop to Jeffrey Deitch Gallery reminds us why LA’s art scene buzzes with energy. Then, the iconic Hollywood Sign looms overhead as we climb or drive up to catch the golden hour over the city — a moment that never gets old, no matter how many times you see it.

Downtown LA demands a full day. We wander into Superchief Gallery, where the walls pulse with new voices and vivid installations. Lunch is casual and delicious at Pizzanista, where every slice tells a story. The afternoon spills into graffiti-lined streets of the Arts District, the city’s colorful heartbeat on full display. Stopping into Dover Street Market is like stepping into a parallel fashion universe — daring, cutting-edge, and unapologetically bold. Galleries like Night Gallery and Nino Mier beckon us into private worlds of creativity before we settle into The Galleries at Hauser Wirth and Manuela for dinner. There, surrounded by warm wood and art, we talk about the day, the city, and the things we’ve seen.

The last few days slow down, drifting into the beaches and galleries of Orange County, then winding into the desert oasis of Palm Springs for a stay at THE ACE. The rhythm changes — less rush, more sun, more moments of quiet reflection by the pool or in the shadow of mid-century modern icons.

It’s not about checking boxes but about letting the city and its people show themselves in flashes — in a taco stand, a spray-can stroke, a lobster shared at sunset. That’s the LA story I want my best friend to see.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to the many people, places, and experiences that shaped my path and kept me grounded while encouraging me to grow.

First, to my education in the Bay Area — that’s where it all really started. The foundation in figurative arts gave me not only technique but the language to express what I saw and felt in the world around me.

I’m deeply grateful for my early work experiences, especially at Mark McIntyre Honda Motorcycles. That job taught me discipline, craft, and how to pay attention to detail — skills that stuck with me and show up in my art every day.

To Sebastien Micke of Paris Match Magazine, thank you for seeing something in my work and helping open doors to a broader vision of what photography could be by setting me in front of the creative world at the highest levels of business and magic in production.

To Will Taylor — not only an incredible photographer but a true friend — your belief in my spark gave me confidence at a time when I needed it most. You reminded me to trust myself and my eye.

And finally, to the Surf, Skate, and Snow industries — you gave me more than just subject matter; you gave me community, rhythm, and a lifelong well of inspiration. The raw energy and creativity of those cultures continue to shape everything I do.

I’m here because others lifted me up, and I don’t take that lightly.

Website: https://brianmorrisphotography.viewbook.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b_morris_photo/

Other: The many ways to support me as an artist can be found here.

https://linktr.ee/b_morris_photo_

Image Credits
All photos represent my artwork, experience and the production collaborations I have been a part of for nearly 2 decades in Los Angeles. Shot by my partners and mentors while on set creating.