Charlie Murphy

Contact

Charlie Murphy
About
Teaching and learning
Research

About

I work with glass, light, sculpture, photography and video to create dramatic installations and participatory events. Widely known for my popular touring ‘kiss-in' events, my projects often involve participation and collaboration of some kind.

I develop a wide variety of award winning exhibitions, performative and public engagement events and projects across arts, public health and arts-science contexts. My projects are presented in many different gallery, museum, community and festival contexts across the UK and internationally. Recent highlights include The Lowry (2019-20),  ISEA 2020, Glass Meets the Future Festival 2020 & 2021 (Northlands,Toyama Glass Art Museum & Museum of Arts & Design New York. ) , Southbank Centre (2018), Wellcome Collection (2016-18, 2011), Lifespace Dundee (2018) Science Gallery (Dublin 2011 & 2014 ), Science Museum (2009), Stanley Picker Gallery (2012) The Big Dance Festival (2008), Artist Collectables at Tate Modern (2007), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2006) and Artsway's ‘New Forest Pavilion' at the Venice Biennale (2005). 

My research investigates photographic phenomena , its indexical potentials and the diverse manifestations of photographic image making . Navigating some of the extremes and elemental qualities of photographic recording, my research aims to identify and frame tensions and expansions between two and three dimensional representation.

Celebrating fundamental physical and haptic qualities of photography, my work also aims to highlight  underlying psychological dimensions of light, projection, perception and optics.   

I am an experienced ,widely respected arts educator contributing to many innovative different education and outreach programmes.

I regularly present and discuss my work and its related methodologies through artists talks, panel discussions, public engagement activities for Wellcome Collection, Kings College, Royal Society of Public Health, Science Museum, Science Gallery Dublin, The Royal College of Art, University of Gloucestershire, (Cheltenham), Anglia Ruskin, University College for the Creative Arts, (Farnham), The Arts Institute at Bournemouth, Plymouth College of Art, Brunel University and Kingsway College.

www.charliemurphy.co.uk www.brainsinadish.org       Instagram: @thephotonicexcitors @theglasskiss @brainsinadish 

Academic responsibilities

Senior Lecturer (Photography)

Qualifications

  • MA Photography, Royal College of Art
  • BA (Hons) Photography,West Surrey College of Art & Design
  • HND Documentary Photography, Gwent College of Higher Education
  • Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Bath College of Higher Education

Teaching and learning

Undergraduate courses taught

Research

From Oct 2016- Aug 2018, I have been artist in residence and co director of a large interdisciplinary team called ‘Created Out of Mind' at the Wellcome Trust's Hub space. Leading research into public perceptions of dementias, we have been investigating how creative processes and tools can enhance the health and wellbeing of people living with dementias and facilitate deeper public understanding and societal change.

I initiated a dynamic series of creative workshops, intimate dialogues and public events to investigate the language, molecular pathologies and common metaphors used to describe experiences of dementias using dance, experimental printing, letterpress, photography, wax and ceramic painting.

Creative outputs from these projects have so far included presentations  for B(old) Festival at The Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre (2018), Dundee's Lifespace Gallery, The Royal Institute (2018),  Normal? Festival of the Brain (Folkestone), West Yorkshire Playhouse, Pint of Science, The Royal Society for Public Health,  ARUK and Wellcome Collection. See www.createdoutofmind.org for more details on this project