08/14/2026
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.
An opening reception will be held on September 11th from 5-7pm, with the artist in attendance and a scheduled artist talk at 6pm.
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.
About the Artist:
Keelin Murphy is a local artist residing in Elizabethtown. Trained in medical illustration, Keelin worked professionally in partnership with researchers and the medical community for many years and in a field where science and art meld . She received a BFA from Michigan State University, and an MS in medical and surgical illustration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Keelin lived and worked as a freelance scientific illustrator in Chicago and later in Stony Brook, Long Island. She moved to the Adirondacks in 2014. Throughout her professional career, Keelin has pursued varied creative explorations, complementing the scientific precision and authenticity inherent to medical illustration with evocative and cathartic pieces.
