Anastasia Murphy

See Anastasia’s process:

About the Project

I created this cyanotype duo when presented with the prompt of imagining a landscape of the mind. When examining my own mind’s landscape, these visualizations came together quite organically. I immediately imagined that some of my more abstract metropolitan images could serve as the foundation for this inner world. The concepts that came to mind were Self-Discovery and Compartmentalization.

With Self-Discovery, I wanted to play with frame and perspective. I imagined the visual to be as if the path unfolds as one goes further. With Compartmentalization, I imagined a structure that would hold emotions, memories, and states of mind. In the windows of this structure, I collaged various photos from past projects that convey these things to me.

I enjoyed the creation of this project from beginning to end. These were the first cyanotype prints I’ve created, and the process of making them was appreciated. Working on this diptych marked the beginning of a new journey of exploration within my artistic practice. I have continued to experiment with the deconstruction of photographs from my portfolio and am reimagining them in ways that echo my mental headspace.

This ongoing series entitled Introspection is continuously expanding across new materials. Examining my own mind as a source of inspiration for my art has brought a newfound inner connection and understanding of self that has enhanced my personal growth along with my work. Through sharing the visualization of my own mind, I invite viewers to consider what the landscapes of their own minds may entail too.

About Anastasia Murphy

I recognized my passion for photography at 14 years old and have been actively exploring that fascination ever since. While I enjoy creating through various visual art mediums, photography is what I primarily work with. Growing up, I always found inspiration around me to capture and that sense of curiosity about life has stayed with me.

I was born and raised in South Florida and am now enjoying what the city environment has to offer, since I began attending school at Columbia. I am currently Chicago based and work in Miami whenever I can visit home. I studied art at Miami Dade College prior transferring to Columbia. Here, I am studying fine art photography and minoring in visual arts management.

With all of my work, I aim to inspire, encourage, and connect with people from all walks of life. The way I attempt to achieve this differs by the project. My subject matter spans from intimate portraits about human interdependence with nature to formalist-inspired street photographs and plenty more in between the two. My street photographs focus on the idea that there is an abundance of beauty to be found in the world around us. They form an ongoing project entitled the In Between which serve as the source material for my Introspection series.

Finding beauty in what may be seen as mundane or is often overlooked is something that has always been a source of inspiration for me. I have noticed that appreciation for the journey is becoming a relevant theme for the work I’m constructing at this stage in my life. I think this may be the root for my growing desire to experiment.

I see experimentation as a way to learn new things about art, the world, and myself. I find the act of creating and going into that process with a “no limitation” mindset as a very fulfilling experience in itself. Even when things don’t work out as planned, I usually find some kind of inspiration. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined myself doing the kind of photography I’m doing now. I’m curious to see how else my artistic practice grows and what this Introspection project will become over time.

To see more of my work or to get connected, my website is anastasiajewelmurphy.com and my Instagram is @anastasiajewelmurphy.