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‘What If?’ exhibition opens

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‘What If? exhibition opens at Filet gallery with work by Carolyn Murphy and fellow MA Fine Art and Fine Art Printmaking students from Middlesex University. They will exhibit new and experimental work at Filet gallery, Hoxton.  

Poster design by artist Melisa Novotna

The exhibition draws on themes of reinvention, exploration and contemplation. As the group’s first show of 2023, it provides a collective opportunity to share new work and test new ideas in a public exhibition project space, dedicated to contemporary art. ‘What If?’ reflects on the creative process and outcomes – with work that contemplates identity, fragility and memory. 

Artist and printmaker Carolyn Murphy presents a video piece for the first time, called ‘Revisiting New Quay’. Her monotypes and collagraphs feature in the video installation and alongside it – reflecting on loss and our connections to place.

‘What If?’ suggests future possibility, a welcomed change, an echo of personal or collective regret, perhaps a missed opportunity?  The show includes artworks in diverse media – including painting, sculpture, printmaking, video and installation.  The exhibition runs from Friday 24 March until Monday 27 March 2023.

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Showing at Bankside Gallery

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Carolyn Murphy is showing work at Bankside Gallery in London as part the Printmakers Council’s exhibition, ‘Thinking for Printing‘. A year earlier, members received an A5 sketchbook and were invited to capture, record and respond to the concept of Thinking for Printing, for a future exhibition. As part of this exciting project, the Printmakers Council selected finished artworks to display alongside the sketchbooks, in order to give a fantastic insight into artists’ ways of working. The sketchbooks were a chance to peek inside each artists’ mind to understand more about their processes and development of ideas.

Detail from ‘Spaces we share’

Carolyn explored dry stone walling primarily in her sketchbook. She recorded experiments to add embossing to etchings and tested colours. She captured examples of rubs, which emphasised depth in the print. Her messy sketchbook sat alongside ‘Spaces we share’, an etching with embellishment, on this prestigious wall.

Works on display in Bankside Gallery
Carolyn’s sketchbook – dry stone wall study

The exhibition opens on Tuesday 31 January 2023 and runs until Sunday 5 February.

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‘Up In The Air’ exhibition at Middlesex University

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At their ‘Up In The Air’ exhibition, Middlesex University MA Fine Art and Fine Art Printmaking students, including Carolyn Murphy, will show exciting new work this December.

For many students this is the culmination of their postgraduate studies. It’s their final show, bringing together work they have developed in 2022 and through the pandemic years. These emerging artists will exhibit together at The Barn, an exhibition space on the Middlesex University campus in Hendon, North London.

Work by Moritz Nicolai

The exhibition draws on themes of transition and new beginnings. At the close of 2022, it provides a collective opportunity to reflect on hopes and change. ‘Up In The Air’ launches ten new emerging artists in midwinter and on the cusp of 2023. The work contemplates identity, fragility and memory. The show includes artworks in diverse media, from painting and sculpture, to printmaking, video and installation.

‘A world we share?’, etching by Carolyn Murphy
Work by Iliana Ortega-Alcazar

‘Up In The Air’ opens on Thursday 8 December and runs until Tuesday 13 December. Everyone is very welcome to this contemporary art showcase, celebrating a point in time and space. At the private view, on 8 December 6pm, you can meet the artists and talk to them about their practice. The show includes work by:

• Maryam Abdollahi 

• Wallis Asher* 

• Natalie Dee 

• Philip Dunn 

• Angela Forrester 

• Freddy McBride 

• Carolyn Murphy* 

• Moritz Nicolai 

• Iliana Ortega-Alcazar* 

• Jan Pimblett 

• Hanan Tawfiq 

• Kathy Rooney 

• Luke Anthony Rooney

*continuing students

Work by Angela Forrester (on walls) and Carolyn Murphy (on floor)

“For Fine Art staff and students at Middlesex University, public exhibition is at the core of art practice. This show provides a snapshot of the diverse and dynamic range of practices currently being explored by the emerging contemporary artists undertaking postgraduate study on Middlesex University Fine Art programmes” said John Timberlake, Programme Leader for MA Fine Art and MA Fine Art Printmaking.

OPEN: 11.00 – 17.00, 8 – 13 December 2022 inclusive

The Barn, Middlesex University, Hendon Campus, London NW4 4BT

Nearest underground station: Hendon Central (15 mins walk).

Parking: Greyhound Hill car park (NW4 4JT). 

Entrance to the Barn: from Greyhound Hill, Hendon

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‘Surface and Depth’ in Norwich

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Artist and printmaker Carolyn Murphy will be exhibiting in the Printmakers’ Council exhibition ‘Surface and Depth’, in Norwich. The Printmakers Council promotes the use of both traditional and innovative printmaking techniques. For this exhibition members submitted artworks under the theme of surface and depth for selection. The show was hosted by Mandell’s Gallery in Norwich and curating.

‘Fracture 2’, an original collagraph by Carolyn Murphy, was selected for the show. It is inspired by Winter Hill in Lancashire, a moorland landscape damaged by wild fire in recent years. Carolyn attended the exhibition preview and had the chance to explore the inspiring work on show.

The exhibition opens on Sunday 29 October and runs until 19 November at Mandell’s Gallery, Elm Hill, Norwich NR3 1HN.

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‘Verdant’ exhibition opens in Mile End

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The Middlesex University MA ‘Verdant’ exhibition opens at Mile End Art Pavilion from Friday 8 July to Wednesday 13 July, from 11am to 6pm. Artist and Printmaker Carolyn Murphy has 5 pieces of work on show, with fellow MA Fine Art and MA Fine Art Printmaking students.

Carolyn Murphy at the private view
‘A shift in the direction of the wind’, monotype by Carolyn Murphy
‘See how easily they fall away’, monotype by Carolyn Murphy

Carolyn created work specifically for the Art Pavilion space, to make the most of the light, the scale and the lakeside setting. Her monotype ‘Reclaiming’ is 2.4m high and has 4 panels. Other work was created for the floor: ‘No stone unturned’, consisting of ‘rocks’, which Carolyn cut and folded from paper she hand-printed, using a monotype technique.

‘No stone unturned’ by Carolyn Murphy

The ‘Verdant’ exhibition also includes work by Middlesex University MA Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration students, as well as postgraduate research students. It’s free and in a lovely spot in the park, just 5 minutes from Mile End underground station.

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(re)FLEX exhibition

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Carolyn Murphy will be part of the (re)FLEX exhibition, with other Middlesex University MA Fine Art and Fine Art Printmaking students, this Easter. It’s the first time this group of emerging artists has exhibited together. The group will show new and experimental work at Filet gallery, in Hoxton, London.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 14 April 2022. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate this contemporary and playful new show with artists at different stages of their practice.

(re)FLEX exhibition at Filet

“For Fine Art staff and students at Middlesex University, public exhibition is an essential part of art practice, and this exciting show is an engaging snapshot of the diverse and dynamic range of practices currently being explored by the emerging contemporary artists undertaking postgraduate study on the Middlesex Fine Art programmes”, said John Timberlake, Programme Leader for MA Fine Art and MA Fine Art Printmaking.

Carolyn will be showing two new pieces of work – both monotypes, inspired by the poet Imtiaz Dharker’s poem ‘Tissue’.

(re)FLEX is open 11.00 until 17.00 from 14 April to 19 April 2022 (inclusive) at Filet, 103 Murray Grove, Hoxton, London N1 7QP.

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Postcard for Twitter Art Exhibit 2022

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Carolyn Murphy is donating a postcard-sized original artwork to this year’s Twitter Art Exhibit in York. A regular contributor to TAE, Carolyn created an etching for the 2022 charity art sale. ‘Staying local’ is hand-coloured with watercolours and it’s based on a sketch she made during the lockdowns last year. The work shows a scene on her doorstep and holds onto the small patches of nature in the urban environment.

‘Staying local’, an original etching by Carolyn Murphy

‘Staying local’ and over a thousand other artworks will go on sale at the charity art sale on Saturday 25 June, and online, in aid of the Encephalitis Society. To find out more about Twitter Art Exhibit, check out them out on Twitter @twitartexhibit or via the Twitter Art Exhibit website. This year, Carolyn has contributed blog posts as one of the volunteer official Twitter Art Exhibit bloggers. You can see posts from Carolyn and others here.

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‘September Evening’ new linocut for the 20:20

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Carolyn Murphy’s new ‘September Evening’ linocut is all set for this year’s 20:20 Print Exchange. The work shows the view looking west from the artist’s home at twilight. It suggests peace and calm – a haven in the city. All 25 prints in the edition are dry and were delivered yesterday.

“This is a view I never tire of – the backyard, nearby trees and bats” said Carolyn. “It’s been a really important small space during pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation. I wanted to capture it for the 2021 print exchange.”

‘September Evening’ linocut by Carolyn Murphy

Each year around 500 printmakers in the UK and from international printmaking workshops take part in the print exchange. All the work features in a touring exhibition, which travels around the UK and abroad.

Carolyn is submitting work again this year with Prospect Studios in Rossendale. This limited edition linocut will appear in other printmakers’ boxes later this year. Each artists receives a random selection of original artwork, all 20 cm by 20 cm in size. The annual event is organised by Hot Bed Press in Salford, UK.

To find out more about how this linocut was made, you can check out Carolyn’s blog.

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New member of the Printmakers Council

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Carolyn Murphy is now a member of the Printmakers Council. Carolyn joined in August this year after following some of the zoom talks by artist members on the organisation’s website. “I really enjoyed watching the member talks on the website, during recent lockdowns. I also got the chance to see the ‘Natural World’ online exhibition of members’ work. These inspired me to join,” explained Carolyn. “I am planning to balance my time between London and Manchester, over the next few years, so I hope to be able to visit future London shows in person and contribute fully to the Printmakers Council in time.”

The organisation formed in 1965 to promote new developments within printmaking and it has consistently promoted the place of printmaking in the visual arts since then. The organisation is artist-run and non-profit-making. In recent years, the Printmakers Council has organised exhibitions in London, across the UK as well as internationally.

‘Singing Ringing Tree II’, linocut, by Carolyn Murphy

Carolyn is excited to be a new member of the organisation and plans to contribute work for selection to future exhibitions. You can check out her profile page here. Her linocut ‘Singing Ringing Tree II’ was accepted into the Printmakers Council Archive at Scarborough Museums Trust. The archive dates from 1992.

'Hebden' an original linocut by Carolyn Murphy

Blogger for TAE21

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Artist and printmaker Carolyn Murphy is now an official blogger for this year’s Twitter Art Exhibit. After a call out from the organisers, Carolyn joined the team of volunteers, with Grace Rebullida, in California.

Each year Twitter Art Exhibit holds an exhibition and charity sale of original art. Artists from across the world donate their work to generate income for good causes, such as charities and non-profit organisations. Carolyn has donated an artwork for the last five years and this year she is blogging about some of the artists and organisations involved.

The blog is part of the Twitter Art Exhibit website. So far you can read new articles about artists Chris Larkin, Andy Baylis and Birsen Ozbilge – with more to follow. You can click here to explore these now!

“I am really enjoying talking to artists and finding out more about them: their lives, their inspiration and their involvement with TAE,” said Carolyn. “I enjoy writing, so I’m finding it fun! I’m also a huge fan of Twitter Art Exhibit, so I’m delighted to be able to help in a small way”, she explained.

The 2021 charity sale will take place at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday 3 July, to benefit the Leukaemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund (LINC). After the opening the exhibition moves online. Carolyn’s 2021 original postcard ‘Hebden’ will be part of the sale for this great cause.

Image of Carolyn Murphy's 'Hebden' postcard
‘Hebden’ by Carolyn Murphy for TAE21

To find out more follow @twitrartexhibit on Twitter and follow the #TAE21 hashtag.

You can read about Carolyn’s other work donated to Twitter Art Exhibit in her own blog here.