James William Murray

Statement

Since 2022 I have pursued an austere formalism centred on a 1:2 cruciform. This central motif emerged from and continues to expand through the internal logic of my studio practice. Across a body of artwork comprising three-dimensional objects and printmaking, the cruciform is repeated, permutated, fragmented, and obscured through layered processes of abstraction.

My studio methodology combines manual techniques with automated processes. For example, my ongoing series of monoprints are unique works made by printing digital drawings using an analogue architectural drafting printer, after which they are hand-painted with molten beeswax to seal and preserve the work’s surface. Aberrations that occur at various stages of production, such as pigment migration or incidental marks caused by hand or machine, are embraced as intrinsic to the process. This reflects my conceptual concern with how technologically integrated art-making impacts questions of authorship, agency, and autonomy.

Examples of my work can be viewed at the web link provided.

Biography

James William Murray (b.1988, United Kingdom) is an artist, researcher, and educator based in Brighton, UK. His work has been the subject of international solo, group, and two-person exhibitions at venues including Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, UK; Thames-Side Studios Gallery, London, UK; Brighton Centre for Contemporary Arts, Brighton, UK. Stephane Simoens Contemporary Fine Art, Knokke, Belgium; Rule Gallery, Denver, CO, USA; PS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Abingdon Studios, Blackpool, UK.

Murray has received funding for his work from various organisations, including an Arts Council England National Lottery grant, a 'time-space' bursary from The Artist Information Company, a ‘Research and Knowledge Exchange’ grant from the University of Brighton, and the ‘Sussex Open Commission’ from Eastbourne Arts Circle.

Examples of Murray's work can be found in public collections, including the University of Brighton, The British Library, and the Hellenic Centre for Photography, as well as private collections in the UK, USA, and Europe.

Recent exhibitions

2023
kruisvormen, PS, solo exhibition, 22/01 - 26/02/2023 ​

Great Small Works, group exhibition, Stephane Simoens Contemporary Fine Art, Knokke, Belgium 24/12/2022 - 20/02/2023
with Philip Akkerman, Mirko Baricchi, Devendra Banhart, Laurenz Berges, Udona Boerema, Pavel Buchler, Walter Dahn, Matilde Duus, Damien Flood, Joe Goode, Alison Hall, Peter Halley, Ross Hansen, Niek Hendrix, Brad Kahlhamer, Konrad Klapheck, Takesada Matsutani, Lars Morell, David Murphy, Johan Nobell, Jinyong Park, Richard Pettibone, Ellen Pil, Machteld Rullens, Angelo Saveli, Maximilian Schubert, Peter Schuyff, Robin Seir, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Esther Tielemans, Luc Vanderveld, Keke Vilabelda, Masaaki Yamada.

2022
Turn Your Face Towards My Face (solo) Stephane Simoens Contemporary Fine Art, Knokke BE

2021 
Material Curing (group) with Katrin Hanusch, Celeste McEvoy, Ieva Raudsepa and Tilo & Toni, Thames-Side Studios Gallery, London UK

James William Murray: Realia (solo)  Brighton Centre for Contemporary Arts, Brighton UK

New Ideal (group) with Paul Anagnostopoulos, MK Baily, Damon Davis, Matthew Harris, Delphine Hennelly, Mildred Howard, Rule Gallery Denver CO USA