Bahar Murphy - BahARTS
"The structure of the built world and the details within it that inspire my art. My paintings are imagined cityscapes, that pull together international architectural styles with symbols and iconic motifs drawn from history, religion and global cultures. Taking the striking elements of the places that have influenced me, I build new places with an exuberant dynamism, sweeping horizons and, often, bold colours to spark the imagination.
I’m Bahar Murphy, I'm an observer. Wherever I go, I observe – people, places, perspectives – and I try and include what I have seen and experienced all around the world in my paintings. They are never of just one place: they are nowhere and yet they are everywhere.  I am uncomfortable, politically, with what is going on in many countries, and I am passionate about global unity, that the world should see itself as a single entity whilst celebrating the wonderful diversity of cultures within it today. It’s that global ambition that I am representing in each of my pieces.
Looking at my paintings, you’ll see arches and domes, spires and skyscrapers, bridges and waterways, all interwoven into a glorious world for the viewer to explore. Each is a journey, full of iconic shapes and symbols from different cultures - minarets meet medieval clocktowers, Gothic skylines meet modernity, their coming-together exciting yet harmonious. Each could be a set for a magical dream or an aspiration for a future way of life."