Ethan Murphy is a lens based visual artist from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He holds a BFA in Photography Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. His work considers the idiosyncrasies of place and highlights the importance of rural environments. Murphy’s practice visualizes the act of return using the camera to probe objects, structures and landscapes that give form to both familial and regional histories. Murphy has exhibited internationally and was most recently the recipient of the International Atlantic Exchange Residency at Artlink, Fort Dunree. Murphy has exhibited at several museums and festivals, including the National Gallery of Canada and was awarded the New Generation Photography award in 2019.
ETHAN MURPHY
St. John’s | Canada
(709) 770-4765
EDUCATION
2019
Image Arts: Photography Studies, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Image Arts, Toronto ON
EXHIBITION HISTORY
SELECTED SOLO & TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2023
Front & Back, Gander Art Series, Joseph R Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre, Gander, NL
2022
Tanea Hynes & Ethan Murphy: The Shape of Desire, Fogo Island Arts, Fogo Island Gallery, Joe Batt’s Arm, NL
2020
Front & Back, CONTACT Photography Festival, The Image Centre, Toronto, ON
2019
What’s Left & What’s Gathered, HOLD FAST Contemporary Arts Festival, Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NL
2018
Where the Light Shines First, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, ON
Where the Light Shines First, HOLD FAST Contemporary Arts Festival, Quidi Vidi Tap Room, St. John’s, NL
Where the Light Shines First, Eastern Edge, The rOGUE Gallery, St. John’s, NL
Where the Light Shines First, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Parallel Lands, Artlink, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland
2023
How Do I Look?: Ways of Understanding Art, The Rooms, St. John’s, NL
2022
Helsinki Photo Festival, Helsinki, Finland
2021
You ←→ Me, The Rooms, St. John’s, NL
The Last Show of The Year, Christina Parker Gallery, St. John’s, NL
2019
Scotiabank New Generation Photography Award, Canadian Photography Institute, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON
RYE NEW GEN, Ryerson Artspace, Toronto, ON
Labour Laws, Union House Arts, Port Union, NL
Scotiabank New Generation Photography Award, CONTACT Photography Festival, The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
Maximum Exposure 24, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2018
Some Mobility, Ryerson Artspace, Toronto, ON
Maximum Exposure 23, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2017
Maximum Exposure 22, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2016
Maximum Exposure 21, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
Bread and Butter, Ryerson Artspace, Toronto, ON
Ryerson/Brighton Image Exchange, University of Brighton, UK
AWARDS/GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS
2024 ArtsNL Professional Project Grant
2024 Grants to Artists and Arts Organizations, City of St. John’s
2023 Canada Council Research and Creation Grant
2022 ArtsNL Professional Project Grant
2022 Helsinki Photo Festival - International Winner
2022 Prefix Prize, Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art - Honourable Mention
2022 Belfast Photo Festival - Shortlisted
2022 Grants to Artists and Artist Organizations, City of St. John’s
2021 Cox & Palmer Pivotal Point Grant, VANL & Cox & Palmer
2021 Riddle Fence Visual Arts Prize - Honourable Mention
2021 EVA Emerging Artist Award, VANL - Shortlisted
2021 Belfast Photo Festival - Shortlisted & Highly Commended
2021 Artist Support Program, Newfoundland & Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
2019 Scotiabank New Generation Photography Award, National Gallery of Canada & Scotiabank
2019 IMA Purchase Prize, School of Image Arts
2018 Dr. Julius Lukasiewicz Award, School of Image Arts
2018 Maximum Exposure Best in Show, School of Image Arts
2017 Howard Tenenbaum Award of Excellence, School of Image Arts
2017 Bread and Butter Best in Show, Ryerson Artspace
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2024
International Atlantic Artist Exchange Residency, Artlink, Fort Dunree, Co. Donegal, IE
Fogo Island Arts International Residency, Fogo Island Arts, Joe Batt’s Arm, Fogo Island, NL
2019
Eastern Edge Studio Residency, Artist in Residence Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NL
Tilting AIR, Artist in Residence, Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland
COLLECTIONS
The Image Centre, Permanent Collection, Toronto, ON
The Rooms Art Gallery Permanent Collection, St. John’s, NL
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Collection, St. John’s, NL
COMMISSIONS
2019
Public Art Commission, Abandoned Structure, 96x96” adhesive polyester print, Soloman’s Lane, HOLDfast Contemporary Arts Festival, St. John’s, NL
2018
Corporate Art Commission, Barrier, 48x60”, chromogenic print, Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, St. John’s International Airport, NL
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2024
Time & Necessary Contexts: in Conversation with Ethan Murphy / by Micaela Dixon for Public Parking Publication, March 14, 2024
2023
Soft Serve / by Allison Graves, Breakwater Books, Cover Image
Movies Are Best Before Noon / The Atlantic, June 3, 2023
Making Waves: 9 Artists on the Politics of Water / Art Canada Institute Newsletter, March 24, 2023
2022
nothing, everything: encounters with contemporary NL photography / by Kate Lahey
2021
Visual Arts News, Photographer Ethan Murphy’s Cabin Fever / by Andrew Sampson, Fall 2021 Resilience
Riddle Fence A Journal of Arts & Culture No. 42, Visual Arts Prize Honourable Mention, Fall 2021
2020
Visual Arts News, Affective Architectures: Ethan Murphy / Review by Kate Lahey, Spring 2020 Architecture
The New Quarterly, Iss. 156, Cover Image
2020 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival Catalog
2019
2019 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival Catalog
Function Magazine, Vol. 20
Newfoundland Quarterly, Vol. 111 #4
2018
Function Magazine, Vol. 19, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2017
Photographer Pushes for Collaborative Efforts, The Telegram, August 25, Wendy Rose
Function Magazine, Vol. 18, School of Image Arts, Toronto, ON
2016
Scribe Magazine, Humber College, Toronto, ON
PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR
2019
“Easing Into States of Vulnerability: a Conversation with Steven Beckly”, Public Parking Publication, June 2019. https://www.thisispublicparking.com/thisispublicparking/author/Ethan-Murphy
“Industry Insight: Laura Ramsey, Imaging Specialist, Archivist, and Photographer”, Function Magazine #20, April 2019. http://functionima.com/industry-insight/laura-ramsey/
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOPS
2022
“The Shape of Desire”, Nicolaus Schafhausen in conversation with Tanea Hynes and Ethan Murphy, panelist, SUF Hall, Fogo Island Arts, Joe Batt’s Arm, NL
2019
“Meet the Artists: Ethan Murphy,” 2019 Meet the Artists: New Generation Photography Award, panelist, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON
“Conundrums, Confessions, Contradictions, and Concerns: Working as Environmental Artists in 2019,”
“Fancy Artist Talks,”Fancy Artist Talk, panelist, HOLDfast Contemporary Arts Festival, Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s NL