About Allison Murphy

Allison Murphy is a multimedia artist whose inspirations range from journalist documentation, minimalist aesthetics, and distortions of reality. She developed a love for photography and the power of documenting people, places, and things from the captivating covers of National Geographic. Her approach to photography is to provide clear and concise images that embody the essence of a person or subject.

National Geographic Covers

Below are recent examples of documentary work:

Photograph from Botanical Gardens at Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.

Photograph "Portrait of Haley" from 2018.

Another aspect of Murphy's art is a fascination with the details of nature usually not confronted on an everyday basis. Many of her photographs seek to give respect to nature in a still shot, drawing influences similar to that of taxidermy or scientific displays.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science taxidermy dioramas. (Image from web)

Photograph "Untitled", from 2019

Example of how minimalism can distort reality and interact with the human mind's complexity, yet enjoyment in simplicity. (The ability to fill in the gaps and make sense of an image)

Murphy also uses drawing and painting as a way to express the minimalist benefit of distorting reality. Through simplicity, she communicates the complexity of the brain's ability to understand through context.

Drawing from series, "Expressions", 2018.

Drawing from series, "Expressions", 2018.

Finally, are her pieces which take on significantly distorted tones. She has used both digital art and painting as ways to express how abstraction can make more meaningful explanations of experiences opposed to realism. For example, "Downloaded," represents the abstracted concept of dissociation and complex trauma into a form which manifests in a tangible image where the abstract becomes the reality. In this way, Murphy speaks to viewers about subjects which are deeply emotional and personal.

Digital art, "First Communion", 2017.

Acrylic painting on canvas, "Downloaded", 2018.

Murphy resides in Boulder, CO and attends the University of Colorado Boulder. She paints, draws, photographs, writes, and teaches. She will be receiving her teaching licensure for social studies in 2020 and hopes to incorporate art as a way for personal narratives and history's lived experiences to come together in the classroom.