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John Albert Murphy, John Murphy, John A. Murphy

Biography to Display: 

Born Dearborn, Michigan

 

EDUCATION

BFA Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan

MFA Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

 

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1973 – 2007 Program Coordinator Ford Motors

1986    Adjunct Instructor Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan

2010    Director of Ceramics at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center

 

BIOGRAPHY

John Albert Murphy is best known for slip cast porcelain vessels with distinct surface pattern designs of black and white stripes. Murphy bisque fires his work, then outlines and creates the patterns, using masking tape and colored slips applied using a “pointillist” painting technique. Throughout his career, however, he has employed many forming methods including throwing, hand-building and press-molding. 

Murphy says of his creative methods: “First I work out the ideas in my head ... Once resolved, I begin to execute. Throwing, hand-building, press-moulding, and slipcasting are all processes I have pursued, the latter being my most recent. I slipcast with porcelain for the translucent quality. Black glaze is sprayed on my masking-tape stencils to obtain the surface pattern design.The process of slip-casting, bisque firing, sanding, re-bisque firing, taping, spraying, un-taping is a meticulous process, unforgiving and time-consuming…During this time, I move into a meditative atmosphere… Sometimes my work references inspirations, current events, personal information, or just entertains dreams. I make mental notes, consider designs, then transfer them on to paper to make a master model. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. I discard what doesn't and move on. It is all part of life."[1]

Murphy lists John Loree and Joseph Zajac as two influential teachers he encountered in the early 1970s at Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Murphy is a past President of the Michigan Potters’ Association, the Program Director of the Michigan Ceramics Art Association, and a member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA). Murphy travels to Asia regularly to teach ceramics classes.

Public Collections

Public Collections to Display: 

American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California

The Wayne State University Art Collection, Detroit, Michigan

Bibliography

Bibliography to Display: 

Changchun International Ceramics Gallery. “John Murphy and His Ceramic Works.” John Murphy and His Ceramic works (cctyg.com)

Fisher, Frank James. “John Albert Murphy: Revelations.” Ceramic Art and Perception 2008 (March1).  The Free Library (March, 1), https://www.thefreelibrary.com/John Albert Murphy: revelations.-a0216848805.

 

 

 

Center for CraftCenter For Craft

 

 

AMOCA American Museum of Ceramic ArtAMOCA American Museum of Ceramic Art

 

Typical Marks

"John A. Murphy" signed in cursive with year in black slip. 

1998
Diversity
Date: 1999
Form: Sculpture
Materials: Porcelain
Surface Technique: Glaze
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society
Photo: TMP
1998
Object 2
Dimensions: 12.4 in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.389
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.389
Photo: TMP
Object 3
Dimensions: 4.5 x 2 x 11.2 inches
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.390
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.390
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 4
Dimensions: 1.1 inches in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.391
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.391
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 5
Dimensions: 0.6 inches in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.392
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.392
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 6
Dimensions: 0.6 inches
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.393
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.393
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 7
Dimensions: 1 inch in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art 2004.2.394, gift of American Ceramic Society
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art 2004.2.394, gift of American Ceramic Society
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 8
Dimensions: 1.6 inches in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.395
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.395
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 9
Dimensions: 0.7 inches in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.396
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.396
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP
Object 10
Dimensions: 1.2 inches in diameter
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.397
Photo: TMP
American Museum of Ceramic Art, gift of The American Ceramic Society, 2004.2.397
Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP

Citation: Lange, Hanna. "The Marks Project." Last modified April 22, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org/marks/murphy-2