Laura Murphy – portfolio

Contact the artist

http://www.lauramurphyceramics.com

enquiries[at]lauramurphyceramics.com

Exhibition information

I’ll be working from my studio, showing displays of my vessels, lamps and sculpture for sale. Also in my studio space will be Rhiannon Young’s paintings. A colleague and friend whose inspirations align with mine, this will be Rhiannon’s first time exhibiting at Artweeks.

Dates: 18th-20th and 23rd-27th May (Closed Tues/Weds)

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (8pm Fri)

Venue: Ayres House Studios, Ayres Yard, Station Rd, Wallingford, OX10 0JZ

I am intrigued by creating delicate, precious objects that retain an inner strength through both

structure and material. Thin trails of colour echo the seemingly chaotic yet structurally sound

pattern of a leaf skeleton, emulate grasses in the breeze or follow the path of a swallow’s flight. I mainly work in Traditional parian clay, finding myself entranced by the tactile quality of the finished surface whilst savouring the luminescent glow created as it interacts with light. It conjures the optimistic feeling that steals over me upon catching an elusive ray of sunlight flowing over a rippling field of wheat.

My hydrangea sculptural series evolved from research into Seasonal Affective Disorder and light therapy, focusing on the positive effects natural light can have on the human body, both in terms of physical and emotional well-being. Parallels between the effects of sunlight on humans and plant life provide a wonderful symmetry between design and intention.

I love that the organic structure of a petal or a leaf can create an architecture that does not rely on geometric patterns. The sight and sound of a body of water, from a tiny trickle to a huge wave, can also trigger an idea. My main inspirations are trees, birds and plant life. Vessel colour schemes represent birdlife, like goldfinch and kingfisher, and the Torquil Tree series was developed during an artist residency. The Murmuration and Marbled Landscapes series was inspired by the sweeping landscapes and the evocative skies of the North York Moors and the Lake District.