John Morreall, humor scholar and artist, to headline Burien reception on Saturday, Feb. 21

An artist known for blending philosophy and humor will be featured at an Artist’s Reception at Burien’s Humble Vine on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m.

John Morreall, vice president of Artists United of South King County, retired to the area four years ago and lives in Normandy Park. He has devoted much of his retirement to painting, focusing on humorous imagery, an extension of his academic career in aesthetics and the philosophy of humor.

Morreall launched the serious study of humor with his 1983 book Taking Laughter Seriously and has since published five additional books. As a consultant, he has delivered more than 600 seminars and presentations on the benefits of humor for business, health care and educational groups. His clients have included AT&T, IBM and the IRS, and his work has taken him across the United States and Canada, through much of Europe and to Japan, China and South Africa.

“Now that I’m retired, I can practice what I preach by putting more humor into my painting,” Morreall said, describing his current focus on painting various kinds of humor ranging from playful fantasy to political satire.

In the last two years, Morreall has concentrated on the comic possibilities of Sasquatches, creating 41 paintings in a series he calls “Sasquatch Scrapbook.” Ten of those works are currently on display at Humble Vine. When the series reaches 50 paintings, Morreall said he plans to seek a publisher.

One additional work, titled Undocumented, is included in the annual juried show at the Collective Visions Gallery.

Learn more about Morreall at:

• https://www.humorworks.com/index.php
• https://www.artistsunitedclub.com/john-morreall.html

Photos

Humble Vine is located at 824 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien: