Anthony Murphy

Biography

In the early sixties my father would travel with his family to visit his brother, my uncle, the poet Richard Murphy, living in the old forge in Cleggan outside Clifden. To supplement his meagre income my uncle would sail tourists to Inishbofin in his Galway hooker called The True Light. On the way over you could watch the mackerel dying slowly in the bilges and follow the porpoises. Sometimes we would stop off at High Island where monks had eked out their existence over a thousand years ago. No harbour, just a leap ashore at the foot of a cliff. But the pagan world was present too for Mrs Coyne was definitely a witch. A witch that knitted my geansaí of emerald green that caught every flying fishhook. To my eye then Fodhla (ancient Ireland) was everywhere and the sweet smell off a donkey’s breath a revelation. Today I see how well named was my Uncle’s boat. If a painting of mine holds true light – then I am still aboard, a little seasick, but at least I am not a mackerel.

Anthony Murphy, March 2012

Solo Exhibitions –

2014 Barbara Stanley Gallery, Connaught St, London

2012 Ib Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin

2011 Barbara Stanley Gallery, Connaught Street, London

2010 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

2009 Ib Jorgensen fine art Dublin

2008 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

2007 Ib Jorgensen fine art Dublin

2006 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

2005 Ib Jorgensen fine art Dublin 2

2003 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

2002 Galerie Aalders, Golfe de St Tropez

2001 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

2000 Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA

1999 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

1998 Jernigan Wicker Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA

1997 The Orangery, Holland Park, London

1995 Park Walk Gallery, Chelsea, London

1993 Park Walk Gallery, Chelsea, London

1991 Park Walk Gallery, Chelsea, London

Group Exhibitions –

2010 Art London, Royal Hospital

2004 Ib Jorgensen fine art, Dublin, Ireland

2003 Ib Jorgensen fine art, Dublin, Ireland

2000 Toronto Art Fair, Canada

2000 The Arts Club, Dover Street, London