Christopher Murphy creates bold and colorful abstract paintings that go beyond pure design to explore contemporary culture and the collective human experience. A recognized artist, Murphy participates in multiple art events and exhibitions both regionally and nationally. Most recently, he had a solo show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Washington, DC. His dramatic abstracts enjoy strong reviews consistently.
For Murphy, abstract art doesn’t hinder communication – it is a more compelling way to portray subjects and express ideas. The initial indecipherability of the image prevents instant identification and interpretation by the viewer. That invites them to explore the work on a deeper level.
It’s on this deeper level that Murphy'’s paintings communicate so effectively. His work relies on the visual metaphor. Recent developments in cognitive theory help explain that the best abstract art operates at the symbolic level. It speaks a visual language we share unconsciously. We recognize it and understand it even though we cannot verbalize it.
Murphy's art expresses the essence of subjects through this hidden visual language. And it is on this level, that the viewer responds so strongly.
Murphy’s Work Enters a New Phase
Murphy has recently begun a new phase of his work. He is always sought to make abstract art more accessible to a broader public. Now Murphy has begun inviting them to participate in the art-making process itself. Through commission work, a patron can submit objects and materials that are personal to them. Murphy will then create an abstract work specifically about them. Murphy sees these works serving as a new kind of portrait, an inner portrayal embodied in the physical objects the person deems significant and expanded through the overall painting.
For Murphy this is ideal because he is able to make a direct connection to his public. He’s found his paintings take on a new dimension when they become portraits. Collectors of his work enjoy seeing what he will do with materials they have provided. This collaboration between artist and viewer further expands Murphy’s attempts to build a new language of visual expression.
"Painting with colors and tones that mimic nature, Murphy approaches art from a perspective that is unique and bold. His use of everyday materials and found objects convey a sense of nostalgia to the viewer," SCOOP studios co-owner Colleen Deihl
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SCOOP Studios Contemporary Art | 57 1/2 Broad St. Charleston, SC 29401 | p. 843.577.3292 |
Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday and Monday by appointment
Christopher Murphy creates bold and colorful abstract paintings that go beyond pure design to explore contemporary culture and the collective human experience. A recognized artist, Murphy participates in multiple art events and exhibitions both regionally and nationally. Most recently, he had a solo show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Washington, DC. His dramatic abstracts enjoy strong reviews consistently.