Melissa Pierce Murray
Melissa Pierce Murray works in carved stone, welded steel and cast bronze in a wide variety of representations of human, animal and plant inspired forms. Her work is informed by the disciplines of physics, poetry and dance. She has exhibited across Hampshire and Cambridgeshire, and undertaken private and public commissions in both England and America.
Born in the USA, she grew up in the mountains of Colorado but moved to the UK in the mid-1990s and now lives in Cambridge. With degrees in Physics and English Literature from the University of Colorado, she has also raced bicycles semi-professionally and studied and performed African and Latin American dance.
“Sculpting for me begins with an investigation of form by drawing in pen, or making maquettes in wire, clay or wax. I probe the relationship between the rigid structure - the ‘bones’ of the form - and the bulk or ‘body’ supported by that structure. Creating a piece feels like an exploration, and I am excited by the metaphoric possibilities, how a piece can flicker between bird to body to boulder."
Born in the USA, she grew up in the mountains of Colorado but moved to the UK in the mid-1990s and now lives in Cambridge. With degrees in Physics and English Literature from the University of Colorado, she has also raced bicycles semi-professionally and studied and performed African and Latin American dance.
“Sculpting for me begins with an investigation of form by drawing in pen, or making maquettes in wire, clay or wax. I probe the relationship between the rigid structure - the ‘bones’ of the form - and the bulk or ‘body’ supported by that structure. Creating a piece feels like an exploration, and I am excited by the metaphoric possibilities, how a piece can flicker between bird to body to boulder."
"My sculptures retain the marks of my explorations, so that you see the chisel cuts across the surface of stone, or welded steel rod which describes line drawing in three dimensions.
The subjects I select reflect my interest in simple, vital objects which possess a serenity, poise, strength. When a piece works for me, it possesses a stillness charged with animation, like a small bird perching motionless, but with a glittering eye, ready to take wing at will.”
Melissa has taught sculptural workshops to all age groups and was on the board of the Hampshire Sculpture Trust before moving to Cambridge. She recently completed three months as Artist in Residence at the Perse School for Girls, in Cambridge. Since 2008 she has co-facilitated Walk-In Studio, a community art therapy project.
Melissa has her own website here and a
Cambridge Open Studios profile here.
The subjects I select reflect my interest in simple, vital objects which possess a serenity, poise, strength. When a piece works for me, it possesses a stillness charged with animation, like a small bird perching motionless, but with a glittering eye, ready to take wing at will.”
Melissa has taught sculptural workshops to all age groups and was on the board of the Hampshire Sculpture Trust before moving to Cambridge. She recently completed three months as Artist in Residence at the Perse School for Girls, in Cambridge. Since 2008 she has co-facilitated Walk-In Studio, a community art therapy project.
Melissa has her own website here and a
Cambridge Open Studios profile here.
