Jan Murphy Gallery presents Duality, a new exhibition by Sydney-based artist Michael Muir.
In this series, Muir reflects on his formative experiences of relocating between countries during his youth—an upheaval that sharpened his sensitivity to differences in light, weather, and architecture, as well as the shifting feelings of belonging and dislocation that come with movement. Duality brings these reflections into focus, exploring how memory and place shape our everyday experiences.
The works traverse hemispheres: a Queensland summer and an English winter. Familiar beaches and coastal roads lined with pines sit alongside rainy London streets, in paintings that blur the boundary between observation and invention. Muir captures the geography, architecture, and street life of places that linger in his memory, layering the emotional resonance of time and place into his painterly practice.
“Moving countries in my youth had a profound impact on how I see the world, shaping my awareness of different environments, atmospheres, and qualities of light, as well as the shifting feelings of connection and belonging they evoke. My paintings aim to articulate these experiences visually.” – Michael Muir
Born in Scotland and raised in South East Asia before settling in Sydney, Michael Muir has exhibited regularly in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne since 2010. Duality marks his eighth major exhibition at Jan Murphy Gallery. He was the winner of the Mosman Art Prize (2014) and a finalist in the Wynne Prize, Kilgour Prize, and Fleurieu Art Prizes. His works are held in the Parliament House Collection, Artbank, and significant private collections in Australia and internationally.
