Craig Murphy

I grew up on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio surrounded by farm fields and open skies. Attending art school in Detroit, Michigan gave me a taste of urban decay. As life has taken me on a journey, I find myself in Leicestershire, where breathtaking landscapes and industry collide. My art has taken as many twists and turns as far as methods, style, and medium are concerned. The one constant is a fixation with how natural beauty resides alongside the synthetic, functional aspects of our environment.
My current collection of work focusses on using industrial methods and materials. Images painted onto sheet metal are forced to rust quickly with a simple mixture of chemicals, allowing the art to come to life. The rust is moderately controllable, but does have a life of its own, which can create some interesting and unpredictable results. These pieces are about embracing the process not knowing exactly what may happen on the other side. There is a level of exhilaration and anticipation that comes with waiting for the oxidation process to slow down once I have set it into motion.

  CraigMurphyArt