Liz Murphy
Liz Murphy is an abstract expressionist painter, educator, and creative mentor based in Montclair, New Jersey. Born and raised in Surrey, England, she studied Graphic Design at Kingston University and spent decades working across illustration and interior design before fully returning to painting as her primary practice. Her work lives at the intersection of intuition and design—where structure gives way to emotion, and clarity dissolves into feeling. Known for her sophisticated color palettes, strong compositional sensibility, and expressive gestural mark-making, Liz’s paintings reflect an ongoing dialogue between freedom and restraint. Drawing from her own studio practice, she developed the 3C Elite framework (Color, Contrast, Composition)—a distilled methodology that offers artists a clear, powerful foundation for deepening both technical skill and creative confidence. Through both her paintings and her teaching, Liz explores creativity as a path back to one’s most authentic self. Her work is held in private and public collections internationally, and her mentorship has guided countless artists toward greater clarity, courage, and personal voice.
Acrylic on canvas 55" x 36" 2025
Acrylic on canvas 55" x 36" 2025
Liz Murphy: Returning Home Through Paint
For Liz Murphy, creativity was never something to be discovered—it was something to be reclaimed. Born in Surrey, England and now based in Montclair, New Jersey, Liz spent decades immersed in the structured worlds of graphic design, illustration, and interior design. Creativity was always present, but it lived within briefs, budgets, timelines, and expectations. In 2019, everything shifted. She made a quiet yet radical decision: to paint without permission—no outcome, no client, no judgment, and no attachment to the result.
“That shift changed everything,” she reflects. “I found my way back home to myself.”
That sense of return—to intuition, to authenticity, to what feels true beneath the noise—runs through Liz’s abstract expressionist practice. Her paintings unfold as conversations between intuition and design, freedom and restraint. She begins with deliberate choices in color, contrast, and composition, then allows the work to lead her into the unknown. What emerges is not resolution, but inquiry—a space where emotion takes form and meaning remains open. Trained as a designer, one of Liz’s greatest challenges was learning to paint without a destination. Letting go of outcome felt uncomfortable, even indulgent. Yet it was precisely this surrender that allowed her to uncover her own artistic voice. By setting aside what she had been taught and trusting the process instead, she found a language that continues to evolve while remaining unmistakably her own.
“My work isn’t confined to a single style,” she explains. “But there’s a through-line you can feel. Consistency of voice matters more than sameness of look.” Over time, her work has moved from design-led structure toward a more expressive, intuitive vocabulary. She is deeply drawn to contrast—light and dark, control and freedom, masculine and feminine energy. Rather than offering answers, her paintings ask questions. They listen. They track internal shifts, contradictions, and moments of courage that shape a life. This philosophy extends seamlessly into her role as an educator and mentor. From her own practice, Liz developed the 3C Elite framework (Color, Contrast, Composition)—a clear and powerful synthesis that helps artists strengthen their work without sacrificing authenticity. Teaching, for her, is not separate from painting; it is another form of devotion. Some of her proudest moments haven’t come from exhibitions or sales, but from witnessing students experience creative breakthroughs—moments when they realize they are not broken, just buried. “Watching someone reconnect to their voice,” she says, “is a privilege I never take for granted.”
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Liz approaches her career with steady commitment rather than dramatic peaks. She believes growth comes not from bursts of inspiration, but from devotion—showing up consistently, refining skill, and remaining radically honest with oneself. Recognition and financial success, she believes, follow naturally when the work is rooted in authenticity and ability. When it comes to the art market, her stance is clear: she doesn’t chase trends. She focuses on clarity. “When the work is honest, it finds its people,” she says. “Alignment creates longevity far more than strategy ever could.” At the core of her journey is a deep sense of spiritual connection. Liz speaks openly about feeling guided by something larger than herself—a divine calling she honors through her work. Alongside this, the steady support of family and close friends has grounded her through every stage of her evolution.
Today, Liz defines success on two levels. One is visible: sustaining a life through art, gallery recognition, and sales. The other is deeply personal: returning to the studio with discipline, refining her craft, and feeling the work grow more authentic over time. When those two meet, the career feels real.
Ultimately, Liz Murphy’s work is an invitation—to slow down, to listen, and to return home to oneself. Her paintings offer moments of recognition and spaciousness, reminding us that we are all continually finding, losing, and rediscovering our way.