ELIZABETH MURRAY

Elizabeth Murray (1940-2007) was a Neo-Expressionist painter particularly known for her unconventionally-shaped canvases, and significant role in revitalizing painting during an era dominated by Conceptual Art. Born in Chicago, IL, Murray spent much of her childhood sketching and drawing. In 1958, she entered the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to become a commercial artist, but her fascination with the Institute's The Plate of Apples (1877) by Paul Cezanne inspired her to pursue painting instead. She went on to receive a MFA from Mills College in California in 1964. In the Post-Modern fashion, Murray's work rejected Minimalism and attempted to revive concepts of narrative and identity in art.