Kidd Murray
Artist: Kidd Murray
Born: 1994
Nationality: Scottish
Artsy: Kidd Murray - Artworks for Sale & More | Artsy
Instagram: Kidd Murray (@kidd.murray) • Instagram photos and videos
Art inspiration: I’m interested in popular culture, materialism, consumerism, and its downfalls. My imagination takes this idea to the next level, and i start to wonder about an environment where nothing natural is left, like a hyper-consumerist, hyper-materialistic world, where everything is designed to look exceptional. The irony is that a world like this would be completely dysfunctional. From this idea, I started to wonder what the organisms feeding off of these plants, fruit etc, would be like. What would they look like? How would they act? This is where the toxic green worm comes in- a product of its own environment. I have recently began to realise that the worm represents much more than I originally thought. It represents the consumer, specifically a female consumer. I paint the worm in different situations, sometimes it’s hiding, sometimes it’s pretending to be a flower, and sometimes it’s bait on the end of a fishing hook. I’ve realised in hindsight that this represents the standards that women are often held to. The pressure or having to fit in and to act and be beautiful.
In the fast-paced rhythm of Hong Kong, she seeks tranquillity, choosing to retain what she wishes to see and omitting what she wants to ignore, much like learning to cope with the absurd chaos of modern society. Her artworks aim to provide viewers with a peaceful and relaxing viewing experience, and offer momentary comfort by illustrating visual rhythms and details through repetitive brushstrokes and harmonious colour.
The occasional display of a powerful force and my own unique view of life and death are also part of my inspiration.
Style: surrealism meets pop art
Favourite Artists: Julie Curtiss, Sarah Slappey, Kisten Deirup, Emily Mae Smith
Favourite piece you have worked on: I am currently working on my largest piece to date, it measures roughly 2m x 2m. The size is challenging but allows me to work in more detail which I am really enjoying.
Exhibitions:
Solo Shows
2023, January, Août Gallery, Beirut
Group Shows
2023 July, Group Show, 42 Art Space, Beijing, China
2023 March, Latent Dreaming, Seefood Room Gallery, Hong Kong
2023 January, Group Show, Cohle Gallery, Paris
2022 July, International, 19 Karen Gallery, Gold coast, Australia
2021 June, Afro Scoulture, A.Scot Gallery, Glasgow
2020 November, Inner Escape, House of Fine Art, London
2019 November, Winter Show, Compass Gallery, Glasgow
2017, August, Southside Salon, House for an Art Lover, Glasgow
Future plans: I would love to continue creating large scale paintings, as I feel this is really pushing me outside of my comfort zone and I am learning the most working this way. I hope to continue to exhibit internationally in 2024, and I am currently working with a publishing house to create my very first artist book!
