Joel Murray
Born 1984 in Denver, Colorado, Joel Murray’s mixed-media drawings depict a myriad of figurative interactions working to satirize ideological constructs such as race, news media and westernized religion. Murray activates fictional characters in an array of visual narratives describing abstruse and ridiculous happenings where cultural critique and humor take precedence. Joel Murray is a devoted professor of art at Richland College and a Museum Educator for Dallas Contemporary in Dallas, Texas.
Artist Statement
My drawings combine and reinterpret recognizable media artifacts as a means to comment on the content that defines American culture. Throughout this body of work, I use humor as a multi-functional tool aimed at jostling the passive viewer out of her/his complacent acceptance of these images that are consistently propagated by popular media outlets. This mixed-media drawing series pits the superficial, ridiculous entertainment we ingest against the larger, pivotal political/historical events occurring across the globe.
The series I Want to Be All of These People, composed of intimate, lively watercolors, explores these themes in counterpoint. Colorful dancing figures pulled from combinations of imagination and memory are compressed into joyful and inclusive fiestas. Recent personal experiences blend with snippets pulled from newscasts to create a mix that is two parts fiction, one part honest recollection.
Taken together, these two series map the unprecedented media landscape in which America currently finds itself ensnared, tracing the fragile, fractious intermingling of entertainment, invention, and news reportage that characterizes the present moment in American culture.
CV
Education
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
MFA with Drawing/Painting Emphasis, 2014
Full academic scholarship plus assistantship stipend
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2008
Teaching Experience
The Warehouse,
Gallery Teacher and Interim Education Coordinator, 2019-May-November
Richland College,
Adjunct Professor of Art, Fall 2018 - Present
Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
Figure Drawing Instructor, Spring 2018 – Present
Prepare and teach unique lesson plans for College Night, and Free Figure Drawing
DISD Summer Institute, Summer 2018
Prepare and teach workshop for 130 DISD educators on figure drawing and its beneficial connection to social and emotional learning
Museum Educator, Fall 2015 – 2019
Lead tours, discussions, and lessons through 6 different multi-artist exhibitions, rotating 3 every three months
Teach offsite lessons for former afterschool program
Teach DC Summer Institute, a summer program for high school students
Navarro College, Corsicana, TX
Adjunct Professor, Fall 2015 – Present
Teach 9 credit hours per semester
Art Appreciation
Write curriculum and teach for 3 credit hour core curriculum course
Deliver lectures and associated art assignments
Fulfill college and state Signature Learning Outcomes
Fluent in online platforms such as Blackboard and Canvas
Design I/II
Write curriculum and teach 3 credit hour hybrid course for 2D beginning and intermediate students.
Teach 2D design techniques with associated projects and lectures
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Teacher of Record
Figure Drawing, Spring and Summer 2014
Teach 2000 level course with live model in multiple medias
Directed Studies in Foundation Drawing, Summer 2014
Taught one-on-one student within summer Figure Drawing course
Foundations Drawing, Fall 2013
Teach 1000 level beginning drawing course
Teaching Assistant
Foundations Drawing, Spring 2013 and Fall 2014
Assistant to Kathleen Thum
Art and Architecture Survey
Assistant to Beth Lauritis
Auraria Early Learning Center, Denver, CO
Art Educator/Older Pre-school Educator, 2006 – 2012
Prepare weekly lesson plans aimed at integrating student interests and a variety of academic areas with art
Help students explore and develop creative ideas through hands-on, group and individual projects, making art a positive outlet/tool for creative expression and pragmatic thinking
Gallery Talks/Lectures
2016
Artist Talk, Navarro College, Corsicana, TX
Gave presentation on my art and practice for faculty and students
2015
Exhibition talk, Atlanta Art Museum, Atlanta GA
Led discussion for group of Clemson University New Media students. I transported the students to the museum, brought them to specific pieces in the museum and discussed each individual art work with them.
2015
Gallery talk, Lee Gallery, Clemson Univ.
Gave artist talk describing my MFA thesis
Tutoring and Mentor Experience
2016 Tutoring Navarro College Art Appreciation students in test-taking methods and test-preparation
2014 One-to-one Mathematics Tutor and Mentor for middle school age student
Engaged in anecdotal storytelling, lessons in memorization, and many other activities designed specifically to improve the student’s math skills
Provided guidance, leadership, encouraged open communication, built strong, positive mentor-student relationship which transferred into academic success
Workshops
2018
Live Figure Sketching in the Galleries, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2017
Summer Art Institute, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2016
Street Art Camp, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2015
Drawing from The Media, CVA-Greenville, Greenville, SC
Designed drawing projects for three two day sessions for art-focused high school students
Facilitated discussions, critical thinking, reflection surrounding images and stories presented by major new media outlets, helped students develop ideas for projects, made drawing collaborations with students to be exhibited
Students exhibited their drawings in a show at the Greenville CVA
Exhibitions Curated
2016 Guest Juror, Navarro College Student Show, Navarro College, Dallas, TX
2015 Automatic Drawing Workshop, Student Work, CVA-Greenville, SC
2014 Some of This and Some of That, Student Show, Acorn Gallery, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC
2010 Room 118’s Art Exploration, Older preschool student show fundraiser, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2009 11th Hour, group show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Solo Show in June at Umbrella Gallery, Dallas, TX
2017 Media Purity, Lillian Bradshaw Gallery, Dallas, TX
2010 Projections, solo show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
Group Exhibitions
2015 Ink Travels, Print Exchange
2015 Then And Now, Print and Drawing Exhibition, Lee Gallery, Clemson, SC
2015 Corporeal Complexities, National Show, guest curator from the High Museum: Virginia Sweeney. Lee Gallery, Clemson, SC
2014 Object Subject Abject, Thesis Exhibition, Lee Gallery, Clemson SC
2014 Tag The Art Gallery, National Juried Show, Pensacola, FL
2014 Divirtiso, Dean’s Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2013 Process This, Juror Adam Glick Associate Director at Galerie Lelong NYCity, CVA Greenville, SC
2013 Transposed, Patrick Square Jurors: Dr. Andrea Feeser and Dr. Beth Lauritis, Clemson, SC
2013 Abstract This, Belton Center for the Arts, Belton, SC
2013 Liminal Spaces, Acorn Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2012 Hobo Portals, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2011 Denver County Fair, Commerce City, CO
2011 Denver Modernism Show, Commerce City, CO
2011 Excessive Force, dual show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2011 Rendered Obsolete, dual show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2010 Boxcar Leftovers, group show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2010 Denver Modernism Show, Commerce City, CO
2010 11th Hour, group show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2009 Disembodied Cupcake Baby, three artist show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2009 2nd Annual Group Show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver CO
2008 Emmanuel Gallery Student Show, Denver, CO
2008 First Annual Group Show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2008 Amalgamate, Group Exhibition, Center for Visual Art, Denver, CO
2007 Metro State College of Denver Drawing Exhibition, MSCD Arts Building Case, Denver, CO
2009 Metro State Library Gallery, student show, Denver, CO
Collaborative Projects
2013 Yours For Mine, print exchange, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2013 Liminal Space, print exchange, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2012 Hobo Portals, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
Grants Awarded
2015 Clemson Art Department Outstanding Community Service Award
Received award for attending guest critiques, participating in helping other MFA graduate students hang their art work, volunteering time to drawing workshops for surrounding area high school students, and volunteering at CVA-Greenville, SC
2014 Clemson Art Department Travel Grant
Awarded $400 for research-based travel by Clemson Art Dept. Scholarship and Awards Committee
Mural Work
2011 Auraria Early Learning Center (Children’s Mural Project)
2010 Auraria Early Learning Center (Children’s Mural Project)
Commissions
2012 Max Segal, Robert Streno
2010 Marie Pierre
Visiting Artist Lectures Attended
2018 Enoc Perez
2017 Pia Camil, Chim Pom^
2016 Paola Pivi, Eric Fischl
2015 Clive King, Giuseppe Penone
2014 Dana Saunier, Mario Marzan
2012 Katherine Opie, Tucker Nichols
2011 Logan Lecture Series
2010 Phillip Tunson
2009 Sandy Skoglund
2008 Tom Huck, Tsehai Johnson
2007 Matthew Ritchie
Art Installation/Art Handling Experience
2016-Present Dallas Contemporary art installation team
2008-12 Boxcar Gallery, Installing/Hanging and handling a variety of art works, repairing gallery walls, lighting gallery space, framing drawings and paintings
Professional Organizations
2016- Present Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2016- Present Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
2014 High Museum, Atlanta, GA
2011- Present Denver Museum of Contemporary Art
2010 Denver Art Museum
Born 1984 in Denver, Colorado, Joel Murray’s mixed-media drawings depict a myriad of figurative interactions working to satirize ideological constructs such as race, news media and westernized religion. Murray activates fictional characters in an array of visual narratives describing abstruse and ridiculous happenings where cultural critique and humor take precedence. Joel Murray is a devoted professor of art at Richland College and a Museum Educator for Dallas Contemporary in Dallas, Texas.
Artist Statement
My drawings combine and reinterpret recognizable media artifacts as a means to comment on the content that defines American culture. Throughout this body of work, I use humor as a multi-functional tool aimed at jostling the passive viewer out of her/his complacent acceptance of these images that are consistently propagated by popular media outlets. This mixed-media drawing series pits the superficial, ridiculous entertainment we ingest against the larger, pivotal political/historical events occurring across the globe.
The series I Want to Be All of These People, composed of intimate, lively watercolors, explores these themes in counterpoint. Colorful dancing figures pulled from combinations of imagination and memory are compressed into joyful and inclusive fiestas. Recent personal experiences blend with snippets pulled from newscasts to create a mix that is two parts fiction, one part honest recollection.
Taken together, these two series map the unprecedented media landscape in which America currently finds itself ensnared, tracing the fragile, fractious intermingling of entertainment, invention, and news reportage that characterizes the present moment in American culture.
CV
Education
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
MFA with Drawing/Painting Emphasis, 2014
Full academic scholarship plus assistantship stipend
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2008
Teaching Experience
The Warehouse,
Gallery Teacher and Interim Education Coordinator, 2019-May-November
Richland College,
Adjunct Professor of Art, Fall 2018 - Present
Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
Figure Drawing Instructor, Spring 2018 – Present
Prepare and teach unique lesson plans for College Night, and Free Figure Drawing
DISD Summer Institute, Summer 2018
Prepare and teach workshop for 130 DISD educators on figure drawing and its beneficial connection to social and emotional learning
Museum Educator, Fall 2015 – 2019
Lead tours, discussions, and lessons through 6 different multi-artist exhibitions, rotating 3 every three months
Teach offsite lessons for former afterschool program
Teach DC Summer Institute, a summer program for high school students
Navarro College, Corsicana, TX
Adjunct Professor, Fall 2015 – Present
Teach 9 credit hours per semester
Art Appreciation
Write curriculum and teach for 3 credit hour core curriculum course
Deliver lectures and associated art assignments
Fulfill college and state Signature Learning Outcomes
Fluent in online platforms such as Blackboard and Canvas
Design I/II
Write curriculum and teach 3 credit hour hybrid course for 2D beginning and intermediate students.
Teach 2D design techniques with associated projects and lectures
Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Teacher of Record
Figure Drawing, Spring and Summer 2014
Teach 2000 level course with live model in multiple medias
Directed Studies in Foundation Drawing, Summer 2014
Taught one-on-one student within summer Figure Drawing course
Foundations Drawing, Fall 2013
Teach 1000 level beginning drawing course
Teaching Assistant
Foundations Drawing, Spring 2013 and Fall 2014
Assistant to Kathleen Thum
Art and Architecture Survey
Assistant to Beth Lauritis
Auraria Early Learning Center, Denver, CO
Art Educator/Older Pre-school Educator, 2006 – 2012
Prepare weekly lesson plans aimed at integrating student interests and a variety of academic areas with art
Help students explore and develop creative ideas through hands-on, group and individual projects, making art a positive outlet/tool for creative expression and pragmatic thinking
Gallery Talks/Lectures
2016
Artist Talk, Navarro College, Corsicana, TX
Gave presentation on my art and practice for faculty and students
2015
Exhibition talk, Atlanta Art Museum, Atlanta GA
Led discussion for group of Clemson University New Media students. I transported the students to the museum, brought them to specific pieces in the museum and discussed each individual art work with them.
2015
Gallery talk, Lee Gallery, Clemson Univ.
Gave artist talk describing my MFA thesis
Tutoring and Mentor Experience
2016 Tutoring Navarro College Art Appreciation students in test-taking methods and test-preparation
2014 One-to-one Mathematics Tutor and Mentor for middle school age student
Engaged in anecdotal storytelling, lessons in memorization, and many other activities designed specifically to improve the student’s math skills
Provided guidance, leadership, encouraged open communication, built strong, positive mentor-student relationship which transferred into academic success
Workshops
2018
Live Figure Sketching in the Galleries, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2017
Summer Art Institute, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2016
Street Art Camp, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2015
Drawing from The Media, CVA-Greenville, Greenville, SC
Designed drawing projects for three two day sessions for art-focused high school students
Facilitated discussions, critical thinking, reflection surrounding images and stories presented by major new media outlets, helped students develop ideas for projects, made drawing collaborations with students to be exhibited
Students exhibited their drawings in a show at the Greenville CVA
Exhibitions Curated
2016 Guest Juror, Navarro College Student Show, Navarro College, Dallas, TX
2015 Automatic Drawing Workshop, Student Work, CVA-Greenville, SC
2014 Some of This and Some of That, Student Show, Acorn Gallery, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC
2010 Room 118’s Art Exploration, Older preschool student show fundraiser, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2009 11th Hour, group show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Solo Show in June at Umbrella Gallery, Dallas, TX
2017 Media Purity, Lillian Bradshaw Gallery, Dallas, TX
2010 Projections, solo show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
Group Exhibitions
2015 Ink Travels, Print Exchange
2015 Then And Now, Print and Drawing Exhibition, Lee Gallery, Clemson, SC
2015 Corporeal Complexities, National Show, guest curator from the High Museum: Virginia Sweeney. Lee Gallery, Clemson, SC
2014 Object Subject Abject, Thesis Exhibition, Lee Gallery, Clemson SC
2014 Tag The Art Gallery, National Juried Show, Pensacola, FL
2014 Divirtiso, Dean’s Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2013 Process This, Juror Adam Glick Associate Director at Galerie Lelong NYCity, CVA Greenville, SC
2013 Transposed, Patrick Square Jurors: Dr. Andrea Feeser and Dr. Beth Lauritis, Clemson, SC
2013 Abstract This, Belton Center for the Arts, Belton, SC
2013 Liminal Spaces, Acorn Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2012 Hobo Portals, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2011 Denver County Fair, Commerce City, CO
2011 Denver Modernism Show, Commerce City, CO
2011 Excessive Force, dual show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2011 Rendered Obsolete, dual show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2010 Boxcar Leftovers, group show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2010 Denver Modernism Show, Commerce City, CO
2010 11th Hour, group show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2009 Disembodied Cupcake Baby, three artist show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2009 2nd Annual Group Show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver CO
2008 Emmanuel Gallery Student Show, Denver, CO
2008 First Annual Group Show, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
2008 Amalgamate, Group Exhibition, Center for Visual Art, Denver, CO
2007 Metro State College of Denver Drawing Exhibition, MSCD Arts Building Case, Denver, CO
2009 Metro State Library Gallery, student show, Denver, CO
Collaborative Projects
2013 Yours For Mine, print exchange, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2013 Liminal Space, print exchange, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
2012 Hobo Portals, Boxcar Gallery, Denver, CO
Grants Awarded
2015 Clemson Art Department Outstanding Community Service Award
Received award for attending guest critiques, participating in helping other MFA graduate students hang their art work, volunteering time to drawing workshops for surrounding area high school students, and volunteering at CVA-Greenville, SC
2014 Clemson Art Department Travel Grant
Awarded $400 for research-based travel by Clemson Art Dept. Scholarship and Awards Committee
Mural Work
2011 Auraria Early Learning Center (Children’s Mural Project)
2010 Auraria Early Learning Center (Children’s Mural Project)
Commissions
2012 Max Segal, Robert Streno
2010 Marie Pierre
Visiting Artist Lectures Attended
2018 Enoc Perez
2017 Pia Camil, Chim Pom^
2016 Paola Pivi, Eric Fischl
2015 Clive King, Giuseppe Penone
2014 Dana Saunier, Mario Marzan
2012 Katherine Opie, Tucker Nichols
2011 Logan Lecture Series
2010 Phillip Tunson
2009 Sandy Skoglund
2008 Tom Huck, Tsehai Johnson
2007 Matthew Ritchie
Art Installation/Art Handling Experience
2016-Present Dallas Contemporary art installation team
2008-12 Boxcar Gallery, Installing/Hanging and handling a variety of art works, repairing gallery walls, lighting gallery space, framing drawings and paintings
Professional Organizations
2016- Present Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, TX
2016- Present Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX
2014 High Museum, Atlanta, GA
2011- Present Denver Museum of Contemporary Art
2010 Denver Art Museum
