James William Murray

James William Murray (b. 1988) is a British artist and researcher living and working in Brighton, UK, and Heiloo, The Netherlands. Touch, trace, desire, loss, and bodily fragility are central themes in his paintings, sculptures, and photographs, with memento mori (a reminder of mortality) and the theological concept of the relic recurring as key points of reference.  Murray's work combines the language of formal objectivity with an underlying lyricism that conveys implicit subjectivity. This tension emerges through minimal gestures: solitary handprints appear as faded vestiges on jute, hemp, and linen cloth; graphite is burnished onto birch panels to produce mirror-like surfaces that distort light; brass tubes, brazed with silver, form frameworks that depict crosses breaking free from their structures.

Murray lives and works in Brighton UK, and Heiloo NL. He has presented his work in international solo, group, and two-person exhibitions at venues including Saturation Point, London, UK (2024); Stephane Simoens Contemporary Fine Art, Knokke, Belgium (2024, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017); Museum Jan Heestershuis, Schijndel, The Netherlands (2024); iCOON Museum, Hook van Holland, The Netherlands (2024); The Church Tower of Sint Anna ter Muiden, Sluis, The Netherlands (2023); PS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (2023); Abingdon Studios, Blackpool, UK (2021); Rule Gallery, Denver, CO, USA (2021, 2019); and Towner Eastbourne, UK (2018, 2016).

Approach to Teaching

James has taught BA Fine Art and BA Fine Art Printmaking during his time as a PGR at the University of Brighton. His teaching implements peer-learning methods to foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment in which all students have opportunities to participate actively in feedback and discussion. Drawing from his experience exhibiting his practice in international galleries and museum contexts, James has developed several professional practice workshops to prepare students for the public presentation of their work. In addition to supporting tutorials and skills-based workshops, James has facilitated reading groups focused on artist writings based on his students’ practice interests.

Alongside his role at the University, James has curated several group and solo exhibitions of work by leading contemporary artists as part of his role as founder of the artist-led studio and project space Niagara Falls Projects (2016-2020) and the itinerant exhibition and artist networking project State of Affairs (2023, 2024). This experience enriches his own practice and feeds into the support he provides for student exhibitions and degree shows.