Lance Avery Morgan
His Gilded Pen Makes Him The Illustrated Life of the Party Where Broadway Meets Bergdorf’s
In a city bursting with creatives, Honorary Texan artist Tug Rice stands out, not just for his signature artistic style, but for his uncanny ability to infuse his illustrations with the rhythm, drama, and wit of a Broadway show. Before he ever picked up a pen professionally, Rice took to the stage as an actor, and that sense of performance still pulses through every character he draws, every lavish ballroom he conjures, and every elegant hat he so deftly illustrates. Our avid artful seeker, Lance Avery Morgan, caught up with the illustrative dynamo to learn more about the man behind the pen.
Born with a dual passion for the arts and the artful, Rice first pursued a career under the stage lights, performing in theaters that demanded timing, nuance, and charisma, all traits that now dance effortlessly across his illustrations. It’s no surprise that his artful scenes feel so alive: they’re blocked like a play, costumed like an MGM musical, and brimming with story even in stillness.
Today, from his perch in New York, the self-taught Rice sketches the city’s high society with a knowing wink and a keen eye. His work is a visual diary of life among the well-heeled and well-dressed, where the martinis are always cold, the socialites effortlessly glamorous, and the poodles wear pearls. His illustrations have become the calling cards of sophistication with a sly sense of humor, gracing the pages of Vogue, Veranda, Town & Country, and plenty more. And, some of his clients include Harry Winston, Dior, The Ritz London, The Carlyle Hotel, Kate Spade, and many others who clamour for his talents to align with their brands.
But don’t mistake the old-world charm of his figures for nostalgia, Rice’s sensibility is thoroughly modern, even as it nods to the elegance of Erté and the polish of vintage fashion ads. He brings a fresh perspective to timeless scenes, adding subtle irreverence to tradition with just a raised eyebrow or an exaggerated shoulder pad.
We feel that Rice isn’t just documenting society; he’s choreographing it, one illustration at a time. His actor’s instinct for gesture and mood ensures that his characters don’t just pose, they perform. Whether it’s a dowager duchess caught mid-waltz or a social climber mid-scheme, there’s a narrative unfolding in every line. As both a performer and a current chronicler of society’s grandest stages, man-about-town Tug Rice proves that high society doesn’t just sparkle, it sings, it swirls, it saunters…and thanks to his pen, it never misses a cue.
The best career advice I’ve received is…
TUG RICE: Not to limit my artistic perspective and to permit myself to experiment with different techniques.
Three qualities that got me where I am today are…
TUG RICE: Curiosity, confidence, and naiveté.
Easiest career decision I ever made is…
TUG RICE: To trust myself.
Due to my ongoing involvement with art, particularly illustration, I have found that…
TUG RICE: While movement is exciting, a still image can have an effect like nothing else can. If it’s done well, a picture can break your heart or make you laugh hysterically — sometimes both at once. It’s amazing to me that the simplest mediums can have the most emotional impact.
What is influencing me right now in my art is…
TUG RICE: The much-talked-about (and rightly so) Sargent exhibit at The Met. Among my friends and colleagues, he seems to be the unanimous favorite. When you see the work in person, particularly from the period this exhibit focuses on, it’s easy to see why. He understood color and texture in a way that I wouldn’t dare try to explain. But I’m deeply inspired by it.
When it comes to illustration, my subjects can often represent…
TUG RICE: People I’ve run into socially. I don’t try to make it obvious, and I’m not even really consciously thinking about it, but I’ve certainly met my share of eccentric characters who seem to lack any self-awareness. And people like that make for excellent heroes in illustrations.
Favorite period to live in before now would have to have been…
TUG RICE: I’ve always thought I’d do just fine in the Edwardian period. But then again, the 1930s had such great music, architecture, art, and literature. It’s a toss-up.
Book that left a lasting impression on me…
TUG RICE: I’m on a Japanese fiction kick and just finished Penance by Kanae Minato. Very dark, very hard to put down. I also keep thinking about Kate Summerscale’s book, The Wicked Boy. I’ve devoured several of her books, actually.
How I made my first dollar…
TUG RICE: I had a lemonade stand, except I sold original drawings. I think they were 50 cents a piece.
On that note, my favorite fictional character is…
TUG RICE: I kind of love Newland Archer from The Age of Innocence.
My real-life hero has got to be…
TUG RICE: I have an uncle who is a wonderful painter. He has MS, but it hasn’t stopped him from creating. Actually, I think his work has only deepened over time. A good reminder to keep going, always.
First music I bought was…
TUG RICE: Recording-wise, I have no idea. But I do remember buying sheet music from the Titanic movie.
Last thing I binge/marathon watched…
TUG RICE: 1000 Pound Sisters. I can’t get enough.
If I lived in a foreign city it would be…
TUG RICE: London is too obvious an answer, and I love it too much to risk ruining it by actually living there. So, I’ll say Vienna. I could very happily live in Vienna.
What everyone should try in their lifetime is…
TUG RICE: Clowning. I know it sounds ridiculous, but when I was in drama school, discovering and developing my clown was one of the most revealing, bizarre, and freeing experiences. (We all have one inside us. In case you didn’t know.)
If I could compete in an Olympic sport, or create one, it would be…
TUG RICE: I’ve only played a few times, but I have a feeling I’d be absolutely unstoppable at Olympic volleyball.
If I weren’t doing what I do I would (be a…)…
TUG RICE: A historian of some kind. I love researching things and making connections between the past and present. If I were better at foreign languages, I think it would be interesting to be a literary translator.
My hidden talent that most people might not guess is…
TUG RICE: I can make a perfect soft-serve ice cream cone and pipe frosting like a professional cake decorator.
If I had a superpower, I’d surely want it to be…
TUG RICE: Time travel. Backwards, never forwards.
A simple way to get people to laugh is easy. Just…
TUG RICE: Do a cartwheel out of nowhere.
A phrase I might overuse would be…
TUG RICE: “You never know!” Also, “But anyway…”
My motto? Easy. It is…
TUG RICE: Try to find something amusing about every situation.
Favorite scent these days is (because)…
TUG RICE: Penhaligon’s Cairo. The first time I smelled it, I was hooked. I’m not good at describing scents, but I will say it reminds me, for some reason, of walking in London at night.
My style icon is…
TUG RICE: 1990s Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.
My personal style signifier is…
TUG RICE: Along coat, Oxford shirt, jeans, and good shoes.
The classic designer I wish was still designing today would be…
TUG RICE: Can I say Henry Poole? He basically invented the dinner jacket in the 1860s. We’re still wearing it today, without much changed. I’d love to know what else he’d come up with today.
The last meal that truly impressed me was…
TUG RICE: At The Occidental in DC. Yes, this is kind of a plug since I created a mural for the restaurant. But the meal was truly fantastic. Crab-stuffed avocado, buttermilk biscuits, Chilean sea bass… and the best version of a whiskey sour I’ve ever had (called an Edmont).
In my fridge, you will always find…
TUG RICE: Hard-boiled eggs, strawberries, string cheese, and sometimes a bottle of champagne. I don’t really cook.
My perfect day would end…
TUG RICE: In a conversation over coffee (decaf) with friends after a good show. Then a taxi ride home through the city I love.
My autobiography will likely be titled…
TUG RICE: Drawing Room Comedy.
