biography of Arthur George MURPHY (1906-1991)

Birth place: Tiffin, OH

Death place: Old Saybrook, CT

Addresses: San Francisco, CA (1930s); Guilford and Old Saybrook, CT (1946-on)

Profession: Painter, lithographer

Studied: Cleveland Sch. art (evening classes), 1926; ASL, with Boardman Robinson and Geo. Bridgeman, 1928; Calf. Sch. of FA, San Fran., 1930-31; Broadmoor Art Acad., Colo. Springs, 1932, 1934; Carmelita Art Sch., Pasadena, 1933

Exhibited: Public Works of Art Project, Southern CA, 1934 (mural); MoMA, 1936; de Young Mus.,1939 (horse and cowboy lithographs); San Fran. MoMA, 1941 (solo); J.S. Ely House, New Haven, 1986 (traveled to Lyman Allyn Mus. and Slater Mem Mus.); Mary Ryan Gal., NYC, 1993 (retrospective)

Work: MMA; NMAA; Newark Mus.; PMA; Oakland Mus. A.; San Fran. MoMA; Univ. KY Art Mus.; deYoung Mem. Mus.

Comments: In 1934, he worked for the WPA and made his first lithographs. He was a war artist in the Pacific theatre, then settled in Guilford, CT, teaching at the Whitney Sch. Art and Quinnipiac College. He created powerful images of bridge workers and steel riggers that are in contrast with his mysterious landscapes and graceful horses.

Sources: exh. cat., Annex Gal. (Santa Rosa, CA, n.d., c.1988); Hughes, Artists of California, 394; exh. cat., Mary Ryan Gal., NYC (1993)