Featured in over 500 private and public collections throughout the world, the work of East End artist, Brendan Murphy, utilizes color and movement to “confront life’s experiences”. Juxtaposing mathematical constructs, iconography, and sensual female silhouettes, Murphy’s paintings guide the viewer through an emotional journey of discovery. Inspired by the facets of emotion, Murphy aims to “explore the complexities of relationships and the dutiful need to bring people back to genuine emotion over distraction and detachment.”

Working primarily with large format canvas and boasting an international stable of notable private collectors, including: Sir Richard Branson, Lebron James, Novak Djokovic, Anna Wintour, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Adriana Lima, Karolina Kurkova, and Ricky Gervais, Murphy splits his time between Water Mill, Malibu, and Brooklyn. His paintings display an effortless blending of gouache, oil and acrylic paint to create floating backgrounds, moving pieces, and a push/pull multi-dimensional visual experience. A former student of legendary Hamptons painter Eric Fischl. KDHamptons catches up with Murphy as he prepares for upcoming shows in New York, Chicago, and Munich, as well as a February wedding in his new Featured Artist Diary below.

KDHamptons: How long have you been coming to the Hamptons, a why do you love it so much?

Brendan Murphy: Since 1999, I’ve lived in Southampton, East Hampton,  Water Mill, Sagaponack, you name it. I think the juxtaposition of the sea and farm land, the sand dunes and then the gorgeous green rolling farms is amazing. Of course,  the colors, and the seasons make the Hamptons a beautiful place to live. [except freezing winter :( temps!] . I’ve traveled the world and the Hamptons is one of the few places that you have such green and lush landscape right next to the beach , and I just love that push and pull effect you feel when your here . The colors are just magical, the sky here  reminds me of one of those mood rings we had in the 80’s .

KDHamptons: How would you describe yourself as an artist?

Brendan: I’d like to think I am a developing artist. Despite having been a professional painter for 14 years, I truly feel as though I am developing my skills everyday and expanding my repertoire and level of execution. As far as what type of art I do, I enjoy painting, I enjoy the canvas as my medium, there’s a finality and risk involved when trying to make a great painting. I use a lot of color, I think of color as a language and another way to describe emotions . Putting those colors in a deliberate place on a canvas and knowing that one mistake takes the piece to a whole new direction is very exciting for me .

KDHamptons: Please tell us about your studies with Eric Fischl?

Brendan: I studied with Eric in a very informal manner, but learned an enormous amount. We met on the tennis court. A lot of my “lessons” were on the court, in between hits and then also in his studio. Eric is an amazing teacher, he actually was a professor one time so he is able to really translate and connect.

My visits to his studio are breathtaking. He has such a talent for storytelling with his paintbrush. And his shadows, man, his shadows are the best, maybe the best ever.

Eric was adamant about me becoming a better painter and stop worrying about galleries, shows, critics, etc. He was very to the point and effective. He demanded I focus on improving and finding my voice as a painter, nothing else really mattered to him. He forced me to be honest with myself and keep pushing my boundaries as a creative person. His lessons still ring in my creative ear everyday.

KDHamptons: How do the Hamptons inspire your work?

Brendan: Well the obvious answer is the light and the colors, but in addition to that I think there’s a wonderful peacefulness out east, especially in the off-season. The rhythm and pace is different than the city and it breeds concentration and focus. There is an amazing quiet in the Hamptons that you can’t find in many places.

KDHamptons: What projects are you currently working on?

Brendan: I’m working on a couple of things. I’m working in a new painting style that furthers my exploration of dimension and depth. I’m trying to tell multiple stories on one canvas rather than just one subject/story etc. It’s scary because there is so much room for error.

I’m also exploring new materials in place of traditional canvas, which could add another level of uniqueness to my work. A friend of mine owns an island in Fiji and he has been producing a new type of “canvas” from a tree only found there, the qualities of this bark [or canvas] are amazing. I’m also exploring the use of optic fibers. Basically, they are amazing fabric that light up, really next level stuff.

KDHamptons: As if you aren’t busy enough, you also launched an athletic line called Solfire, what kind of clothing do you produce?

Brendan: Solfire is a high performance athletic line focused currently on tennis [Brendan and his fiancee Monica Castillo sport Solfire, above]. I basically started it by request of some tennis playing collectors in Florida who asked if I would put some of my designs on tennis clothes. Well, it kind of took off from there. It hasn’t been easy learning the clothing business and I try to stay more focused on the design element, handing over most of the day to day business stuff to partners.  Our collection is available on www.tenniswarehouse.com and Paragon Sports I believe.

KDHamptons: Please tell us what a perfect day in the Hamptons looks like for you?

Brendan: A good hunt [my rescue Pit Bull, Dexter, chases the deer] and hike in the early morning. Then a nice breakfast, usually something from Hampton Coffee Company, then some painting. Tennis, gym, and more painting. Dinner with friends ~ I love the veal parm & spaghetti at La Parmigiana in Southampton, followed by a movie. Perfect!

KDHamptons: If you could invite three people to your Hamptons home for a dinner party [dead or alive], whom would you choose?

Brendan: Bob Marley, Larry Bird, Willem de Kooning

KDHamptons: Who is your favorite artist? If you could only hang one piece in your home, which would you choose?

Brendan: I have so many favorite artists, Eric is certainly one of my favorites alive, Richter, Freud etc. But I think Klimt and Pollock, and de Kooning were the most influential. If I was only allowed to own one piece in my house it would probably be a Velasquez and it would be sitting next something Hirst made. So there you go. I’m all over the map…

KDHamptons: Where can our readers view more of your work and find about upcoming exhibitions?

Brendan: You can see my work at www.brendanmurphyart.com. We also have a gallery in the city, and you can connect with my manager Jamie at jamie@brendanmurphyart.com

Thanks!