Short Bio

Murray’s photography encompasses constructed still lives, portraits, figurative nudes, and self-portraits. Her vintage gelatin silver prints and contemporary digital photographic practice draw on themes of surrealism, feminist body art, and formal compositions focusing on transformational light and abstraction.

After graduating from the Gregg Secretarial College in Dublin, Murray immigrated to Rochester New York in 1967. Murray met her future husband, Harold Jones, when he was a curator at the George Eastman House. They married in 1971, and had twin girls, Rebecca and Star, in 1972. With no formal art education, Murray began to make photographs after she and her family relocated from New York state to Tucson, Arizona.

Throughout my career, folks often asked which photographers influenced me? In reflection I find that question was too narrow for me to reply adequately. I have been influenced not just be photographers such as Harry Callahan, Emmet Gowin, Andre Kertesz, Frederick Sommer, but also by an assortment of other artists such as Irish writer, Edna O’Brien, painters, Rene Magritte and Georgia O’Keefe to name just a few.

Lately discovered Vivian Maier is also a rare glimpse into the unusual mind of a mostly untrained photographer. A treasurey awaiting discovery. Standing in the shadow of great art motivates me to dig deeper into my psyche to reveal what’s still left unsaid. Unspoken and Unseen.

Currently resides in Tucson, AZ.

Born: Murray was born in Drogheda, Ireland, September 1947

Education : She attended the Gregg Secretarial School in Dublin, Ireland, 1962 Immigration : In 1967 she immigrated to Rochester, New York, USA

Family : She and her husband, Harold Jones, have twin daughters, Rebecca and Star

Read more about Murray’s art and life in her Extended Bio.

Technical Notes

The early photographs/gelatin silver prints were created with a simple Rolleiflex with a 2 1/4 inch format, later transitioning to a Hasselblad 2 1/4 inch camera.  She processed and printed her work in a home darkroom shared with her husband. Her contemporary work is created using a Leica Deluxe 6 and is printed in her home digital studio.