“The Weight of Dreaming”

Melissa Murphy

22nd October - 2nd November
Opening night Friday 24th October 6-8pm

Artist Statement

In this series of paintings, I explore how solitude transforms over time into a meditative state. The creative process becomes a way of releasing personal systems—structures shaped by habit, belief, and performance. By tracing patterns such as sleeping, pretending, and remembering, I navigate the absence of structure and translate that exploration into works on glass, ceramics, and fabric.

Like defining a dream, when an image is accepted, perception can shift—and experience begins to take form. The fragility and transparency of glass, the weight of clay, and the comfort of fabric each carry their own resonance.

This work is rooted in a practice of creating while letting go— observing the space between conscious thought and subconscious attachment. The process began through reading and study, which evoked a visceral, physical response. I found myself relearning how to be in my body with intention. As my relationship with time shifted, so did my perception of what was already present.

I build each piece through repeated layering, shaping, and experimenting with material weight and composition. These gestures are attempts to articulate an inner landscape, to give form to an experience that is often felt before it is understood.

This exhibition is dedicated to the holistic teachers I've learnt from and been supported by during this time—for their knowledge, their practices, and their generosity. Their influence continues to inform my curiosity, process and my presence.

@melissamurphyartist

Please contact us if you are interested in any of these works or would like additional images.