“Am I doing what I really want to be doing?” Brendan Murphy asked himself when the devastating events of 9/11 shook the world. After notable careers as a professional basketball player and trader on Wall Street, Murphy was forced to confront himself, as well as his wants and needs. Now, he is a world renowned artist who redefines the identity of art; he crafts sculptures and paintings that transmit positive energy, allowing viewers to connect with themselves and communicate the beautiful and rare modern human experience.
Murphy is best known for his Boonji Spaceman Sculptures that are made out of fibreglass with a silver based chrome painting. This reflective sculpture encourages viewers to confront themselves, reflecting Murphy’s artistic aim to provoke his viewers and help them become in tune with their emotions.
Brendan Murphy recently announced his new collaboration with Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua. The first installation is located in the main atrium of the luxury resort. It is a thirty piece, three story hanging sculpture of Candy Hearts created with carbon fiber letters, symbols and numbers with a silver based chrome painting technique. The second installation, a 20ft, one of a kind rendition of Murphy’s famous It’s Time To Groove Boonji Spaceman, will be positioned at the end of the pier, perhaps even visible from space! Murphy has also revealed a very special piece called ‘Frozen with Desire,‘ a 850-carat diamond filled Spaceman sculpture, in collaboration with diamond and precious metals expert Johnathan Schultz. ‘Frozen with Desire‘ is set to launch soon, at Nicole McGraw Fine Art Gallery, in Palm Beach.
The devastation of 9/11 appears to have motivated you to pursue art professionally, but when did art first come into your life?
I always liked being creative and enjoy the process. I guess the first time I really enjoyed it was when I had the chance to renovate my first nice apartment when I was living in Germany. I painted every room a different color, different theme, and I even painted the ceiling pink in the dining room. I threw paint against the wall in another room, I painted a replica basketball court on these shiny wood floors I had. I loved every minute of it.
How have your previous careers as a professional basketball player and trader on Wall Street influenced your art?
I think I have an enormous capacity for hard work. Being alone and practicing my craft, sports teaches you that. As far as Wall Street goes, I learned the ins and outs of business and most artists don’t get that opportunity. I still rely heavily on advice from mentors. Having a broad business background before entering the art, has helped.
Is there a specific artist who has influenced your own art? If so, who?
I mentored under Eric Fischl, and I learned a lot from Ross Bleckner. I had access to David Salle, all while I was starting out. I also taught myself art history. I just soaked up everything I could about the great painters of the last 200 years. It was an amazing process. It gave me a sense of what my voice might be, where I fit in, etc.
Everyone’s artistic process is unique. From that first spark of inspiration to the end creation, what does yours look like?
Ha. I am a professional working artist, it’s what I do, it’s what I’m wired to do…there is no beginning and no end. It’s a liquid, ongoing process. I spend hours in the studio. That’s where the process happens and that’s the only place you can work through problems and find solutions.
How do you decide what materials to use for your various art pieces?
I work with many different mediums, I don’t choose them, they chose me. I am in full pursuit of making beautiful impactful works of art. I’ll use whatever will help me accomplish that.
Where did the inspiration for your Spaceman sculptures arise from?
I enjoy exploring how we process emotions, how we land on a feeling. I love the concept of embracing the unknown, facing challenges in our lives. The Spaceman embodies the ultimate in someone who embraces the unknown, deals with their fears, etc. They jump out of a spaceship into the galaxy. That is the ultimate.
Which painting, sculpture or collection of yours are you most proud of, or just holds a special place in your heart?
It’s mostly pieces people have never seen. It’s some oddball piece that represented a breakthrough, a new idea, usually the first in the series, etc. I can’t put my finger on one exact piece…
What is one highlight in your art career that always motivates you to keep creating?
I have a 30 foot flower painting hanging in The Family House, which is a wing of the San Francisco Children’s Hospital where families are able to stay with their children that are fighting cancer. The painting hangs in the lobby. I’ve received emails from parents that say the painting cheers them up and means a lot to them and their child. That’s the highlight of my career.
What is one low point in your art career that was a valuable teaching moment?
I’ve had a lot of them, ha! The biggest point though is not to listen to anyone tell you what you should paint, and what will work. Whether it may be an art dealer or a collector they have no idea what they are saying.
What is on the horizon for you and your art?
I aim to be one of the most important artists of this coming decade. I am pushing the limits of everything I do and everything the world has seen. It will play out as I envision it, I just have to focus on the work and stay dialed in and the rest will occur.
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https://www.brendanmurphyart.com
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