Sculptor Melissa Pierce Murray has been appointed as Univ’s Visitor in the Creative Arts for the academic year 2019-20. Melissa Pierce Murray devises intersections of matter, emotion and narrative to create sculptures with a tactile allure and unnerving edginess. Frequently interactive or participatory, her sculptures use an aesthetic intrigue to elicit a physical or emotional response. These works arise from an interest in performance and interactions, how specific objects and materials can facilitate and deepen awareness of ourselves and our world.

Melissa Pierce Murray said, “I am thrilled and honoured to have been selected for this position. It will provide a stimulating and unique context in which to develop my new interactive body of work entitled Carbon, which will link across science and humanities. I was attracted to this role because I am passionate about nurturing creative development and creating interdisciplinary connections. I will begin by temporarily installing two sculptures in the College which I hope will generate interest and discussion and I greatly look forward to engaging with the College community in this coming year.”

Awkward Objects, 2018

Murray exhibits internationally and is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors. Her ideas are motivated by interdisciplinary studies in physics and literature, while her sensitivity to place and material arises from her roots in the Colorado mountains. Current exhibitions include Awkward Objects in Wakefield Cathedral for Index, part of the Yorkshire Sculpture International; and Parallel Lines, for the Ingram Collection and Royal Society of Sculptors, at The Lightbox in Woking.

In 2018, she worked with audiences to explore relationships between sculptural objects, bodies and environments (InteractionObject, Cambridge, 2018), and co-produced NanoVignettes, a series of microfilms on nano science as seen through the eyes of artists. Exhibitions include SciArt at the Cavendish (University of Cambridge, 2018), Stasis (Cambridge, 2017), Royal Society of Sculptors Bursary Show (London, 2017), Into Boundless Space I Leap, (curated by Kettle’s Yard for the University of Cambridge Maxwell Center, 2016) and Constellation (The Undercroft, Norwich, 2016).

Choreographed Drawing, 2015

In 2016, Murray was jointly commissioned to create Breaking Boundaries, a live art installation combining sculpture, dance, and video, for Passion for Knowledge (DIPC, San Sebastian, Spain). Awards and Residencies include CoLab Body and Place Historic Drawing Residency (2019), Ashurt Emerging Artist Art Prize (Shortlisted, 2018), AA2A Placement (2017), Royal British Society of Sculptors Bursary Award (2016), and Contemporary Visual Arts Network/Museums at Night mentoring program (2016). She holds a BA in English Literature and Physics, and an MA in Fine Arts.

Portrait (c) Anne Purkiss, other images (c) the artist.

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