Available Works

Indeterminate growth Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Indeterminate growth
Indeterminate growth 2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Indeterminate growthPia MurphyIndeterminate growth
Indeterminate growth2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Unfamiliar hilarity Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Unfamiliar hilarity
Unfamiliar hilarity 2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Unfamiliar hilarityPia MurphyUnfamiliar hilarity
Unfamiliar hilarity2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Gambiteer Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Gambiteer
Gambiteer 2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
GambiteerPia MurphyGambiteer
Gambiteer2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
Un chien Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Un chien
Un chien 2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
Un chienPia MurphyUn chien
Un chien2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
Apophenia Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Apophenia
Apophenia 2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
ApopheniaPia MurphyApophenia
Apophenia2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
The value of uncertainty Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - The value of uncertainty
The value of uncertainty 2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
The value of uncertaintyPia MurphyThe value of uncertainty
The value of uncertainty2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Black Morel Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Black Morel
Black Morel 2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Black MorelPia MurphyBlack Morel
Black Morel2025
oil on canvas
138 x 102 cm
$5,500  ENQUIRE
Forest Creek Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Forest Creek
Forest Creek 2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
Forest CreekPia MurphyForest Creek
Forest Creek2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
Traveller Pia Murphy - Traveller
Traveller 2025
oil on canvas
122 x 91 cm
$6,000 framed  ENQUIRE
TravellerTraveller
Traveller2025
oil on canvas
122 x 91 cm
$6,000 framed  ENQUIRE
By an ocean, by the sea. Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - By an ocean, by the sea.
By an ocean, by the sea. 2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
By an ocean, by the sea.Pia MurphyBy an ocean, by the sea.
By an ocean, by the sea.2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
Skeleton tree Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Skeleton tree
Skeleton tree 2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 122 cm
$8,800 framed  ENQUIRE
Skeleton treePia MurphySkeleton tree
Skeleton tree2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
150 x 122 cm
$8,800 framed  ENQUIRE
Showing up Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Showing up
Showing up 2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
Showing upPia MurphyShowing up
Showing up2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
Shoreline Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Shoreline
Shoreline 2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
ShorelinePia MurphyShoreline
Shoreline2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
Night Walk Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - Night Walk
Night Walk 2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
Night WalkPia MurphyNight Walk
Night Walk2025
oil and acrylic on canvas
131 x 203 cm
$11,500 framed  ENQUIRE
From another place Pia Murphy Pia Murphy - From another place
From another place 2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
From another placePia MurphyFrom another place
From another place2025
oil on canvas
55 x 46 cm
$2,900  ENQUIRE
Pia Murphy

For regional Victorian-based artist Pia Murphy, the thrill of abstract painting comes from not knowing what is about to emerge from the canvas. She doesn’t sketch out her ideas or attempt to assert an outcome on the process, preferring to leave herself open to whatever creative energy comes forth.

Instinct and experimentation are key. Having originally trained in print-making, Murphy was subsequently drawn to clay sculpture, then watercolour, then oil paint. Though her first compositions were still lifes, she quickly progressed to abstraction to better capture the spirit and power of her imagination, and the unexpected magic that occurs when subconscious play is underpinned by formal principles.

Perhaps counterintuitively, there is as much deliberate destruction in these works as there is making. Paint is applied, then trowelled off, reapplied, then sanded back, scraped and voided as Murphy wrestles the surface towards a balance between gritty manipulation, nuanced colour and intuitive movement.

The works are personal, inasmuch as they’re inspired by Murphy’s place in the world and her ongoing personal evolution, but a degree of ambiguity is important. Murphy wants the viewer to bring their own curiosity and worldview to her work that, when combined with her original intent, creates a language that she hopes is universal.

A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (Bachelor of Fine Art, 2004), Pia Murphy has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and internationally in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Winner of the 2004 National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Women’s Association Encouragement Award, her work is held in private collections in Australia, the USA, Italy and Switzerland.

Carrie McCarthy, 2024

Born in Melbourne 1981

EDUCATION

2004

  • Bachelor of Fine Art, Printmaking, Victorian College of the Arts

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025

  • 'Omnivorous cast', Edwina Corlette, Brisbane

2024

  • 'Florescence', Edwina Corlette, Brisbane
  • 'Garden Gravity', Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne

2022

  • ‘Eternal Springtime’, Michael Reid Northern Beaches, Sydney

2018

  • ‘Twin Flames’, LON Gallery, Melbourne

2017

  • ‘A great big shape and a smaller one’, Caves Gallery, Melbourne

2014

  • ‘Land’ Chapterhouse Lane Gallery, Melbourne

2013

  • ‘Saccade’, Pieces Of Eight Gallery, Melbourne

2012

  • ‘Woolgather’, Chapterhouse Lane Gallery, Melbourne
  • ‘New Work’, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne

2011

  • Gorman presents ‘Pia Murphy’, Melbourne

2010

  • ‘New Work’, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025

  • Sydney Contemporary Art Fair with Edwina Corlette
  • Quarantine Art Fair with Nicholas Thompson Gallery

2024

  • 'How to Swim', curated by Sally Anderson, Edwina Corlette, Brisbane

2023

  • 'Small Works', Edwina Corlette, Brisbane
  • 'The Birregurra Art Show', Birregurra, Victoria
  • 'Sunday Salon Showroom', Melbourne, Victoria

2022

  • ‘Softly, Soflty’, curated by Amber Cresswell Bell, Michael Reid Northern Beaches, Sydney

2021

  • ‘The Birregurra Art Show’, Birregurra Hall, Victoria
  • ‘A Square of Sunlight’, curated by Helen Gory, Backwoods Gallery, Melbourne
  • ‘The show must go on’, Sunday Salon, Melbourne
  • ‘Brindar con extranos’, Galeria Trinta, Spain

2019

  • ‘Spring-Time #4’, Lamington Drive, Melbourne

2018

  • ‘Spring 1883’, CAVES inc. Melbourne
  • ‘The Horse’, curated by Noel Mckenna, Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney
  • ‘The Birregurra Art Show,’ Birregurra Hall, Victoria

2017

  • ‘Not Fair’, curated by Tony Lloyd, Sam Leach and Ashley Crawford, Melbourne
  • ‘Last Drinks’, LON Gallery, Melbourne

2016

  • ‘Concrete Agenda’, curated by Tai Snaith, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne
  • ‘The ordinary instant’, Over 50 works by Clarice Beckett alongside Seven contemporary women artists, Bayside Arts and Cultural Centre, Brighton
  • ‘Faux Studio’, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne
  • ‘Group Show: Second Iteration’, Arts Project Australia, Melbourne

2015

  • ‘Group Show’, Chapterhouse Lane Gallery, Melbourne
  • ‘Shots off the dices’, an exhibition of Australia and international artists curated by Rhys Lee, Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne
  • ‘Faux Fair’, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne

2014

  • ‘Faux Museum’, curated by Anusha Kenny, Melissa Loughnan, Kate Tucker and Ace Wagstaff, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne

2012

  • ‘Paintings of Steves’ Paintings’, St.Heliers St. Gallery, Melbourne

2011

  • ‘Scarecrow’, curated by Rhys Lee including Rhys Lee, Pia Murphy, Heidi Yardley, Rob McHaffie, Daniel Price and Matt Hinkley, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne
  • ‘1.85 Million: Art Peripheries’, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney

2010

  • ‘Exquisite Palette Show’, St. Luke. Artist Colourmen, Melbourne

2008

  • ‘Exquisite Palette Show’, St. Luke. Artist Colourmen, Melbourne

2007

  • ‘50 - a print exchange portfolio’, curated by Rona Green, Geelong Regional Gallery

2004

  • ‘Nguyen Van Cuong Printmaking Project’, Hobson’s Bay City Council Gallery

AWARDS

2004

  • Winner, National Gallery of Victoria Women’s Association Encouragement Award, Victoria

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2023

  • Miasma Magazine, Issue 1

2022

  • Hunter & Folk feature by Holly Terry

2016

  • ‘Artists collaborate without talking’ Art Guide Australia, Andrew Stephens, December

2014

  • ‘Pia Murphy + Rhys Lee’, Journal of Australian Ceramics, volume 53, issue 3, by Alicia Sciberras, November

2012

  • ‘A new chapter’ Broadsheet, May 22

2011

  • ‘Ceramic Goodness’ Frankie Magazine, November 24
  • ‘Scarecrow’, Dan Rule, The Age, June 17

COLLECTIONS

Private collections Australia, USA, Italy, Switzerland

December 20, 2024

PIA MURPHY HAS BEEN AWARDED EDWARD F. ALBEE VISUAL ARTS FELLOWSHIP FOR 2025

We are thrilled to congratulate Pia Murphy on being awarded the 2025 Visual Arts Fellowship through the Edward F. Albee Foundation, granting her a month-long residency at The Barn in Montauk, New York. Founded in 1967 by Edward Albee, the foundation supports artists bi-annually, providing time, space, and resources to foster creative development.

For her residency in April, Murphy made the move from her home studio in Birregurra, Victoria to the Montauk studio whereby she explored her abstracted, layered approach to painting in a new and illuminating landscape. Her practice evolves through playful exploration and discovery, reflecting a deep curiosity and delight in unexpected moments. Influenced by the colours and textures of her surrounding landscapes, Murphy’s current focus is painting, building on her background in printmaking and ceramics.

The works produced during this residency will feature in her upcoming solo exhibition, Omnivorous Cast, at Edwina Corlette Gallery from 8–28 October.

READ MORE HERE

IMAGE:

Pia Murphy in her studio, courtesy Rhys Lee