This week’s campus celebrity takes artsy to a whole new level. Lauren Murphy is a sophomore from Foxboro, Massachusetts who is double majoring in studio art and art history. Lauren is an incredibly talented aspiring artist who specializes in painting, drawing and photography.
Her Campus: When did you really start to take an interest in art?Lauren Murphy: It all started at pretty young age for me. When I was in fourth grade, I started taking art classes outside of school. Once I was in high school, I got really, really into art through my high school’s program. My passion for art has only grown over the years.
HC: Why did you choose Fairfield to study art?LM: I didn’t want to go to a school that was specifically focused around art. I wanted to be well rounded in my education and I liked the idea of having a core curriculum. I think without the core, I never would have picked up an art history major. Also, Fairfield has a really great art program because of the school’s proximity to NYC.
HC: What’s your favorite thing to paint/draw?LM: I love to draw all types of portraits, either self-portraits or portraits of other people. I think the human body and face are absolutely fascinating. I also really love photography, but I’ve never taken a photography class—it’s more like a hobby for me.
HC: Do you have a favorite artist?LM: Honestly, no. That’s such a hard question because I appreciate so many different types of art and I’ve learned about so many different artists. Recently, I’ve really gotten into classical Greek sculpture because my art history classes have been focusing on sculpture.
HC: What do you love most about art?LM: It usually de-stresses me and, as cliché as it sounds, it’s a good way to express myself and channel creativity.
HC: How do you decide what you want to create?LM: I don’t really decide—if something catches my eye inspires me it just kind of sparks my creativity and makes me want to draw or paint it.
HC: What’s your favorite creation?LM: Oh god, that’s such a hard question. I guess if I really have to choose it would be this piece because it’s kind of a mix of realistic and supernatural…
HC: What type of career do you aspire to have?LM: I’d like to have a curatorial position at a museum, which means that you pick pieces for the museum, or an administrative position. I always want to keep making artwork on the side. I’ve sold stuff once at an art show but I don’t typically sell my work—I just do it for fun!
HC: Have you done any artwork for Fairfield University?LM: Over winter break, I made an oil pastel piece for the student run play called The Shape of Things. This semester, I’m tinting a casting for Fairfield’s cast collection, which is located in both Bellarmine and Loyola. The purpose of the tinting is to prepare the cast for an exhibit at The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Ridgefield, CT. On top of that, I also have internship with an artist in Stratford, CT. I’ve been working hands on cataloging her life’s work—so I’m not personally doing the art, but I’m helping to prepare the artist for a gallery exhibit.
Check out some more of the awesome pieces Lauren has created: