Kenn Morgan

Born: Buffalo, NY

Kenn Morgan is a Living Legacy Artist at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

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Kenn Morgan was a film photographer and instructor in Buffalo, NY. Described as a film purist, Morgan remained committed to the process of shooting and developing film despite the growing popularity of digital photography. For decades, he shared this expertise with students at Locust Street Art, where he has taught black and white film photography since 1987.

Born and raised on Buffalo’s East Side, Morgan was a self-taught photographer. Through spending time in numerous photography studios, developing his own shooting style and his many years of professional experience, Morgan amassed a wide range of knowledge on the medium, committing its history, cameras, film types, styles, and some of the most iconic film photographers to memory.[1]

Morgan described his personal style as simple, noting, “the best photographs are simple, with elements of beauty or drama -- or both.”[2] With digital photography comes tools, automatic settings and editing software that can all help photographers carefully craft their shots. B&W film strips away all these tools, leaving it solely to the photographer and his subject to get that perfect shot. For Morgan, this bare bone medium was essential for creating truly good, creative photographs.

In 2008, Morgan and fellow film photographer Robert Schultz founded Still Film Photographers of Greater Buffalo, an organization committed to preserving and promoting B&W still film photography. Morgan was well known within Buffalo's art communities; he regularly attended openings to stay current on the art scene, oftentimes capturing these events on film. Morgan's work has been exhibited in several galleries throughout Buffalo. He hosted a monthly radio show, the Burnham and Dodge Art Hour, where he and his co-host discussed all things art.

Locust Street Art's Executive Director, Rachelyn Noworyta writes of Kenn:

"Just about anyone in Buffalo’s arts communities knew Kenn. For those who had the privilege of knowing him more deeply knew that he was a great friend who would do anything for anyone--always throwing in a joke or two while doing it. “Don’t say it, Kenn Morgan”, he would say to himself if there were “too many young people around”.

Kenn was a brilliant photographer. He was always behind a camera, documenting everything and reminding me to continue to document as well. He was always excited to share his knowledge to anyone who’d listen, whether it was about “FILM” photography or a history lesson or a funny story. “You gotta tune into my radio show!”, he’d say if you were talking about something he had already covered.

Kenn is responsible for teaching generations of photographers how to hone their craft at Locust Street Art. Decades ago, Kenn first brought his young children to Molly Olga to take art classes. He stuck around, and became vital in developing the dark room photography program. That same program continues today.

He was a man who would NEVER say ‘no’ to a cookout or a cook-off. “Hotdog Day” was a national holiday in his book. Competitions, over who had the best ribs among his friends, was an extravaganza that led to friendly arguments once the ballots had been counted. Every year for LSA’s Annual Art show, he’d be behind the grill never wanting to take a break - with a beer in one hand, flipper in the other and a camera around his neck - he’d make sure everyone got fed (even the vegetarians, though he would exclaim “vegetarian!? well, now, why would you do that?”)

Kenn was always everywhere. He was somehow able to make it to every art opening, seemingly being in multiple places at the same time. He never missed a First Friday and would support as many artists in a single First Friday as he humanly could. If you had a show, Kenn Morgan was probably there asking what you were going to have for dinner. He was always with friends: camping and getting outdoors, joining Slow-Roll on his bike, and trekking around to food trucks and breweries.

Not only was he an artist and huge supporter of the arts, he was a teacher, he was a father, he was a friend...I could go on and on about him, and he would hate it (though, I think, secretly love it)."

Kenn Morgan passed away on June 1, 2020.

[1] Huewayne Watson, “Still Film Photographers of Greater Buffalo,” Buffalo Rising, published Jan 18, 2009, https://www.buffalorising.com/2009/01/still-film-photographers-of-greater-buffalo/.

[2] Interview by Thanh Bui, “Kenn Morgan,” ArtVoice, Dec 19, 2002.