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Lehigh rotunda stained glass.
Deirdre Murphy smiling in front of her mural.

Deirdre Murphy

Teaching Assistant Professor, Art

610-758-3619
dem319@lehigh.edu
C1, room
Education:

MFA, University of Pennsylvania

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Focus Areas

Additional Interests

  • Painting & Printmaking
  • Environmental Interdisciplinary Art

Personal Statement

My studio practice is fueled by a naturalist impulse, echoing the spirit of early environmentalists like Bartram and Audubon. Rooted in their legacy, I merge art making with scientific inquiry, weaving together threads of observation, environmental consciousness, and artistic exploration.

In my paintings, prints, sculpture, and public art, I approach each piece with the curiosity of a naturalist, delving beyond the surface to uncover hidden connections within the natural world, be that on a molecular level or pastoral. Central to my practice is the recognition of our environment's vulnerability and the urgency of the climate crisis. I aim to underscore the timeless relevance of our ecology and nature conservation in the anthropocene.  

I believe in the transformative power of art and the act of looking with sensorial awareness.  Ultimately, my goal is to create an open conduit between art and science, offering a unique perspective that celebrates the wonders of the natural world while advocating for its preservation.

Biography

Deirdre Murphy is a contemporary visual artist whose work delves into the intricate connections between art and ecology. Through the mediums of painting, printmaking, and collaborative sculpture, she explores the effects of the climate crisis on avian migration, nesting structures, and ecosystems. Murphy's artistic journey has been deeply intertwined with scientific inquiry, leading to collaborations with a diverse array of experts including ornithologists, biologists, neuroscientists, molecular scientists, and climatologist from esteemed institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, Washington College and Integral Molecular Laboratory.

Her artistic exploration has been enriched by residencies at renowned institutions including Penn State University's Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Winterthur Museum, Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary, Powdermill Nature Reserve, and Drexel University's Academy of Natural Sciences.  Throughout her career, Murphy has received recognition for her innovative work, earning grants and awards from prestigious organizations such as the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, Percent for the Arts, CORE and Humanities Lab at Lehigh University, and the Leeway Grant. Murphy's art has been showcased in prominent museums and galleries, including Winterthur Museum, Zillman Art Museum, Palm Springs Museum, Biggs Museum of American Art, New Bedford Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and the Philadelphia International Airport.

Deirdre Murphy holds an MFA degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a BFA degree from the Kansas City Art Institute. She serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at Lehigh University in the Art, Architecture and Design department.  Her artwork is represented by Chimaera Gallery (Philadelphia) and Susanna Gold Gallery and can be viewed at www.deirdremurphyart.com.

Research & Creative Work

  • Residencies                  

    2024 Washington College, Center for Society & the Environment Artist Residency,Foreman Branch Bird Observatory, MD

    2024-2025 Lower Merion Conservancy, Gladwyne PA Climate Action Artist Residency

    Solo Exhibitions 

    2024 Gradients of Growth, Chimaera Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

    2024 MuSE Museum, Washington College, Chestertown, MD         

    Public Commissions

    2024 Flyways, Foreman Branch Bird Observatory, Washington College, MD

    2023 Visible Currents, The Launch Apartment Complex, Alameda, CA

    2022 Birds of Neshaminy Creek, Maureen Welch Elementary, Horsham PA

    2020 Stargazer, Charles Library, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

     2018 Conodoguinet Mural, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

    2017 Warbler Migration, Percent for the Arts, Aster Apartments, Dublin, CA