Martha McKinley Murphy
Martha McKinley Murphy owns Walking Bear Studio, located in southern North Carolina, where she creates her whimsical steel and copper sculptures. Martha has been a painter and art enthusiast from the early age of 7. After attending St. Michael’s College in Burlington Vermont, she graduated cum laude with a degree in both English and Fine Arts in 1988. Not until she was in her 30’s did Martha really pursue a career in the arts. She is both an Artist in Residence for The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and also works with Arts Path at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She teaches Visual Arts encompassing everything from painting, sculpting, metal fabrication and clay works.
“Painting and creating can become a way of life way beyond any hobby or passing interest. Being an artist can be as simple and uncomplicated as eating and breathing. You wake up thinking of what you will make or create and your dreams are full of such visions. It has long been my desire (since age 7 really) to share the world as I see it. Painting, like meditating or listening to exceptional music is soothing and necessary for the soul.”
