Shyriaka Morris started her journey as an artist at a young age. She loved to color in coloring books and blend the colors of the crayons together to make new colors. When she went to college at Prairie View A&M University, she met her mentor Ann Johnson. Her mentor quickly noticed her talent and asked "Shy" to join her in a group exhibition. This exhibition would be the launch of Shy as a professional artist.  Shy traveled all over America with artists like, Frank Frazier, Mark Crow, Larry "Poncho" Brown, Charles Bibbs and many other successful artists. She returned to her home town of New Smyrna Beach, Florida to give back to the community that gave sooo much to her as a young child.

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Shyriaka “Shy” Morris was born 1975, in Daytona Beach, Florida but has deep roots in both Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  She attended Ormond Beach Junior High and graduated from Seabreeze in 1993. Shy is the daughter of Donofa Rainge and Wonzel Morris.  All of Shy’s pieces include strong women in their fight not to struggle but to inspire a new generation of strong women. In society, where art is judged by traditional standards, Shy dares to be different with her unique portrayal of women, girls and family life. Shy is inspired by all the beautiful, natural, humble, strong, intelligent, emotional and superhuman powers that are carried by the women in our communities.

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Shy is a single mother of four kids ranging in ages from 19 to 8 years old. Her degree is in Early Childhood Education, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Certified (VPK) and a Director’s Credential from the Department of Children and Families. She has fused her love for art and education to create her organization, PEACE ARTS (Positive Education and Creative Expressions) that provides spaces for creative education options over 25 years. Shy is also a Master Community Builder with over 20 years of community service. She partners with area organizations to provide free educational art experiences in “underserved” communities. Shy knows that every child has a gifted mind and she is skilled at helping her students find and open their gifts (minds). She uses her art to help her students reach for educational excellence with a fun, innovative, transitional and transformational program.  Some of her outreach programs include daycares, Chisholm Elementary, New Smyrna Beach Middle School and New Smyrna Beach High School. PEACE ARTS bridges the gap between home, school and the community by creating constructive conversations with parents, school staff and community leaders.

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As a professional artist, Shy has exhibited with the elite of African American artists like Frank Frazier and Charles Bibbs, with exhibitions that include: National Black Arts Festival, National NAACP Conference, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Project Row Houses, Harris House at Atlantic Center for the Arts and Essence Festivals. Her work was exhibited and sold to, Erykah Badu (Grammy Winner), N’Dambi(Grammy Nominee), Solonge Knowles (Grammy Winner). Many of Shy’s murals can be seen at Pettis Park, New Smyrna Beach (Freedom Quilt), Humane Society (Southwest Volusia), New Smyrna and Alonzo Babe James Community Center (UNITE Mural). She also has two murals in Houston, Texas and three murals in New Smyrna Beach. She recently was commissioned by the City Of Port Orange to commemorate 150 years of Freemanville, the oldest free man settlement in Volusia County. That painting is on tour starting at Port Orange City Hall.  Bethune Cookman University commissioned her to do a painting for their March Women’s Conference using one of Mary McLeod’s iconic photos of her standing with the school for girls.

Her ties to her community run deep into the heart of where she serves. She is a Community Artist for Atlantic Center for the Arts, Executive Board/Youth Programs for the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum, New Smyrna Beach Residents Coalition Board Member, Youth Motivator/Mentor for Volusia County Schools, Director of Youth Programs for Concerned Citizens of the Black African American Community,  New Smyrna Beach PAL, New Smyrna Beach Boys and Girls Club, New Smyrna Beach Vision Alliance Board Member,  City of New Smyrna Beach’s Leisure Services Activities Advisory Board, New Smyrna Beach Women In Leadership, and President of the NAACP Southeast Volusia Branch.  All of her community programs are spaces for hope and healing. 

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