Sarah Murphy maintains her practice in Canberra at M16 Artspace where she creates her work to exhibit nationally. In 2011, she received her Bachelor of Visual Arts from the School of Art, Australian National University – Major Gold and Silversmithing. Since then she has been a finalist in various contemporary jewellery award exhibitions, including most recently The Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalwork Award at Castlemaine Art Gallery in 2015
Of her work, Murphy says ‘Rhythm, repetition and movement are the fundamentals which are often the driving forces behind my work. I use repetition as a rhythm and a play between worlds of colour, movement and shape. In life we experience repetition every day. The simple act of walking, breathing or the sound of our own heartbeat. The gesture or movement of the human body, creating its own random yet syncopated pattern. The use of repetition in my work creates structure. The presence of structure in our lives gives us the sense that we are somehow in control of our own existence. I enjoy creating jewellery with these characteristics and exploring how this might affect the relationship between the wearer the viewer and the piece itself.’
Exhibitions
2019
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre - Visionaries, Canberra
ANCA - PIN8: An exhibition of contemporary brooches, Canberra
M16 Artspace - Pegboard, Canberra
Kin Contemporary Jewellery and Objects Gallery - Hidden Gems, Canberra
M16 Artspace - Members Show, Canberra
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Contemporary Wearables 2019 Biennial Jewellery Award Exhibition - finalist
2018
ANCA - PIN8: An exhibition of contemporary brooches, Canberra
M16 Artspace - Pegboard, Canberra
KIN Contemporary Jewellery and Objects Gallery - Hidden Gems, Canberra
M16 Artspace - Members Show, Canberra
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre - Place Makers, Canberra
2017
Studio 2017 – Earring Obsession, Sydney
KIN Contemporary Jewellery and Objects – You’re as cold as ice, Canberra
M16 Artspace – Touch, Canberra
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre – Studio17, Canberra
ANCA (Australian National Capital Artists inc) – Biomimicry in vessel, Canberra
2016
M16 Artspace – Wall to Wall, Canberra
Craft ACT: Craft and Design – Citizens of craft, Canberra
M16 Artspace – Wrap up, Canberra
2015
Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalwork award and Exhibition 2015 – Castlemain Art Gallery and Historical Museum, Victoria
Contemporary Wearables '15 Biennial Jewellery Award & Exhibition, Toowoomba, QLD
JMGA-NSW - Profile 2015, Airspace 2 Projects, Sydney
Craft ACT: Craft and Design – Emerging contemporaries, Canberra
M16 Artspace – Small Things, Canberra
2014
Bilk Gallery – Ring-a-ding-ding, Canberra
Design Canberra – Activate: Un-earthing Jewellery, Canberra CBD
Studio 2017 – BigLittle, Waterloo, Sydney
M16 Artspace – Chutespace Gallery, Fragmented Habitat, Canberra
Bilk Gallery – Encounter, Canberra
M16 Artspace – Artists’ Exhibition
2013
Bilk Gallery – Hollydays, Canberra
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery - Contemporary Wearables ’13 – Finalist
Bilk Gallery – Chained, Canberra
Bendigo Art Gallery - Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork Award – Finalist, Victoria
M16 Artspace – The Kitchen Table, Canberra
2012
Bilk Gallery – What is it about earrings? Canberra
M16 Artspace – The Spaces Between, Canberra
The Incinerator Gallery – Bilk on Tour, Melbourne
The Incinerator Art Space Willoughby – Bilk on Tour, Sydney
Griffith Regional Gallery – National Contemporary Artists Award, Griffith
Metalab – National Contemporary Artists Award, Sydney
Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre – Emerging Contemporaries, Canberra
Bilk Gallery – Embark, Gallery for contemporary metal and glass. An exhibition of works by six recent graduates from Canberra and Melbourne, Canberra
Bilk Gallery – Embark, Gallery for contemporary metal and glass. An exhibition of works by six recent graduates from Canberra and Melbourne, Canberra
2009
Canberra Glassworks – Limited Lines. Curatted by Mel George. A group of 8 glass artists selected to participate in the annual December exhibition – Canberra
2008
Gympie Regional Art Gallery – Let there be Glass – Gympie