Alex Murphy

Anthology Of Weeds Wild Flowers

During the 22nd edition of YRAF we had the pleasure to be visited by Alex Murphy, whose exhibit was housed at KIAC’s ODD Gallery at that time. We took that opportunity to host an Artist Talk and Reception for “Anthology Of Weeds Wild Flowers” as part of the events on Thursday, June 9th that kicked-off the festival weekend.
As well, Alex participated in the Print & Publishing Festival by offering demonstrations of their Florentine Marbling technique.

Artist Statement

“As a society, we are encouraged to explore external constructs and geographies, but rarely as individuals, are we encouraged to understand the internal landscape of the self.  Only when both internal and external are understood and valued is true integration possible.  

Themes of space, time, and difference have rooted in me and consistently express themselves through my work.  Natural environments have directed the content of my art through subjects of cartography, landscape, and botany. 

My work reconsiders traditional perspectives through the investigation of, and novel approaches to, historical technologies.  In this body of work, I have reimagined Florentine marbling and juxtaposed it with embroidery.  This layered confluence results in a kind of ethereal blueprint, where unusual spaces, small as seeds, form where they were once previously lacking.  These blueprints allude to transcendence from dichotomy and begin to acknowledge and reintegrate that which has been made, or viewed as, ‘other’.  

Fluid, wild and unruly lines of marbling create a foil for careful, regulated and intentional stitches of embroidery, combining dichotomous concepts that exist within me.  Although this body of work was created through my lens of queerness, my hope is that a plurality of identities finds space here.” 

ALEX MURPHY (he/they) is a queer visual artist and educator. They hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing and painting from OCAD University.  Additionally, they hold Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Architecture degrees from Dalhousie University.  Alex’s environmental and architectural studies significantly influence the direction and content of their art education and practice. Their work reconsiders themes of space, time, difference and value. Alex is compelled to critique antiquated perspectives, to innovate approaches to traditional technologies, and to construct new spaces in and with their practices. Alex’s work has been exhibited in Italy, Ireland and Canada.  
Alex is of settler descent and was born in Kespu’kwitk in Mi’kma’ki (southwestern Nova Scotia). They currently live and practice in Tkaronto (Toronto).