Erin Murphy

Erin Murphy explores symbolic imagery through her highly original painting practice, drawing inspiration from an eclectic and ever-growing library of delightfully offbeat, nostalgic illustrations.

The artist breathes contemporary life into historical, cultural and everyday images, adding an element of affectionate parody, storybook charm and playful whimsy while working with traditional materials and old-fashioned canvas-making methods to form her delightful, quietly theatrical pieces.

Currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at the National Art School in Sydney, the artist was one of the most exciting discoveries at the 2023 National Emerging Art Prize, where her work immediately caught the eye of NEAP curator Amber Creswell Bell.

Murphy says she likes her work “to feel like scenes from a lighthearted story, a fiction from a very happy-go-lucky sort of world.”