Emerging From the Ashes of Design
There are artists who create with precision, and there are those who create from necessity—Liz Murphy does both. A professionally trained abstract artist with deep roots in graphic design, Murphy’s journey has evolved through reinvention, hardship, and an enduring curiosity about human emotion. Born and raised in Surrey, England, her artistic path was anything but conventional. After graduating from Kingston University with a degree in Graphic Design, she carved out a career that spanned creative directorships at London agencies, the design of children’s products, and the illustration of New York Times bestselling books. Yet, none of those successes spoke directly to her inner world—until everything changed.
In 2016, the foundations of her personal life were shattered by divorce and a cancer diagnosis. These seismic events served as a wake-up call, compelling her to question the path she had taken and to listen more closely to what her soul needed. For decades, she had created art for others—clients, publishers, brands. Now she wondered: what if she created solely for herself? That inquiry ignited a transformational journey. Abstract expressionism, long admired but never attempted, suddenly became her sanctuary. What began as tentative exploration in workshops soon became a refuge and an identity—raw, expressive, and unrestrained.
Murphy’s paintings are not just visual compositions; they are visualized states of being. In works like Making Memories and Rose Petal Party, splashes of acrylic serve as artifacts of lived emotion—sometimes exuberant, sometimes chaotic, always honest. Her studio in East Orange, New Jersey, now expanded and bustling with activity, reflects that same ethos. It’s a space designed for release and discovery, housing both her large-scale canvases and her unstructured energy. Whether the music is loud or the atmosphere hushed, Murphy immerses herself in this environment as though entering a temple, each brushstroke a prayer, each splatter an act of rebellion.
Liz Murphy: The Courage to Paint Without Permission
For Murphy, the process of painting has never been about aesthetics alone. It is a deep listening, an invitation to dance with instinct rather than intellect. Each session in the studio begins with a quiet surrender—an unspoken agreement to follow the emotional current wherever it leads. She enters what she describes as an “in between space,” where judgment dissipates and internal guidance takes the lead. This moment of alignment doesn’t come easily or automatically. It demands presence, risk, and vulnerability. But when it arrives, it grants something rare and nourishing: freedom.
There are days when the studio becomes a battlefield, her own inner critic loud and insistent. Other days, the creative act feels like a gentle exhale, meditative and restoring. No two sessions look the same, because Murphy doesn’t approach her canvas with a plan. She doesn’t expect the work to conform or behave. Instead, she offers herself fully to the unknown. That act—showing up without expectation—is what defines her authenticity. The result is work that feels alive, fluid, and emotionally resonant. Her paintings carry traces of her psychological weather, subtle shifts in energy and unspoken epiphanies.
The emotional resonance of Murphy’s art extends beyond herself. Her pieces function as connectors—visual bridges that encourage the viewer to pause and feel. She hopes her work sparks something intimate and mysterious, the way a favorite song or scent can suddenly access hidden memory. She refers to her paintings as “souvenirs” from her emotional journey, but they are also invitations—for others to journey inward. In every layer of color and texture, there is a suggestion that truth, though messy and imperfect, is beautiful precisely because of its rawness. It’s that invitation to embrace imperfection that gives her work its visceral impact.
Designing Spaces That Speak
Liz Murphy’s talents are not confined to the canvas. Her design work, rooted in the same principles of emotional authenticity, offers another dimension to her creative life. After relocating to the U.S. in 2005 and eventually settling in Montclair, New Jersey, Murphy pursued her lifelong passion for interior design. Once her sons were grown, she established Liz Murphy Designs, blending her keen eye for color, form, and flow into the architecture of daily living. Her approach to design mirrors her painting practice—it’s about evoking feeling, sparking presence, and fostering connection.
Her interior design philosophy centers on the belief that home isn’t just where we live, but where we align. Every decision—from color palette to furniture placement—is guided by the client’s emotional and practical needs. She strives to create environments that support both functionality and serenity. These are spaces not just to live in, but to exhale in. Whether designing a peaceful bedroom retreat or a collaborative work space, Murphy’s intention is always to co-create something that nurtures the person occupying it.
The synergy between her artwork and design practice is one of her most unique contributions. When she’s able to place her own art within the interiors she designs, a profound harmony emerges. She likens the experience to conducting an orchestra—balancing color, movement, and energy to create a unified composition. This integration of visual art with environmental design elevates her spaces from beautiful to meaningful. It’s a full-circle expression of her commitment to creating beauty that heals and inspires, both inside and out.
Liz Murphy: The Studio as Sanctuary and Stage
Tucked inside a historic East Orange building, Murphy’s studio is more than a workspace—it’s a sanctuary where she sheds the noise of the outside world. Walking up two flights of stairs and through five doors, she symbolically leaves behind distractions and steps into intention. The studio itself is light-filled and textured with history, featuring original wood floors marked by layers of paint from generations of artists. It’s a place of contrast—serene yet vibrant, minimalist in architecture yet bursting with expressive energy.
Inside, her large standing desk, moveable carts, and high ceilings provide the flexibility and freedom her creative process demands. On one wall, freshly finished canvases stand in quiet triumph, while on another, blank ones await their turn under her brush. A paint-splattered sofa offers respite and reflection. Whether she’s lost in a rhythmic flurry of brushstrokes or quietly contemplating a single color choice, the environment supports her needs. It’s a studio designed not just for creating art, but for experiencing transformation.
Recently, the studio expanded, allowing Murphy to work on larger pieces and host Creative Play workshops. These sessions aren’t just technical classes—they’re spaces where participants are encouraged to break rules, experiment, and reconnect with their innate creativity. Her role shifts from artist to guide, helping others unlock their own expressive voices. In this way, Murphy’s studio becomes both stage and sanctuary, a place where creativity is not just practiced, but passed on. Here, she continues her mission to inspire, connect, and heal—one brushstroke, one space, and one soul at a time.
