Under the Skin, Under the Sky: Works of Keelin Murphy

September 10 through October 24, 2026
Opening reception, Friday September 11
5-7:00pm, Artist Talk at 6:00

Whitcomb’s Arts is proud to present “Under the Skin, Under the Sky” a captivating solo exhibition featuring new and old works by local artist Keelin Murphy. Opening on September 10th and running through October 24th, this collection brings together two distinct artistic practices: sweeping oil landscapes and intimate ink wash figure drawings.

This show explores the enduring natural world alongside the transitory human experience. Keelin Murphy, who spent her career working under the strict, demanding parameters of medical illustration, stretches her gaze to these themes in creating works of contrasting yet complementary aesthetics. These works represent creative outpouching, the clinical gaze softening to craft works which hold the immeasurable- memory, emotion, and resonance.

The oil landscapes capture the permanence and vastness of our natural surroundings. Keelin pairs heavy textures and deep tones with capricious skies to evoke timelessness. From towering mountain ranges to infinite horizons, these landscapes remind viewers of the enduring structures that outlast human generations.

Keelin’s figure drawings navigate the fluid nature of human movement. Rendered with a flurry of ink washes, these pieces capture split-second moments in time. The ink anchors the form, while the fluid watercolor bleeds beyond the lines, mirroring the ungraspable nature of a single moment.

We are thrilled to host this unusual body of work that juxtaposes Keelin Murphy’s artistic explorations – the figures of years past and her landscapes of today. Keelin creates a beautiful dialogue between the permanent and the fleeting. The weight of the oil landscapes balances the breathtaking, momentary spark of the figures.