A woman sitting on a stool outdoors next to an easel with a cityscape painting. She wears a black apron and paint-splattered pants, with a white tank top. Green trees and grass are in the background.

the northern loon studio is the creative home of morgan murphy.

About

morgan murphy (she/her) is a chicago-based artist whose work seeks to acknowledge, celebrate, & uplift the beauty & whimsy in the overlooked, cliché, & mundane aspects of everyday life.

as a multimedia artist who most frequently uses acrylic paint on wood or canvas, morgan uses layers of vibrant colors, bold contrasts, & dark lines in her cityscape & flowerscape paintings, community murals, abstract works, uplifting cards, & upcycled trinket jars. her works are bright, bold, imaginative, & emotive.

originally from northern michigan, the artist is inspired by the call of the northern loon (a diver bird from her native region), which causes a moment of pause, reflective imagination, & hyper-awareness of her surroundings. she seeks to emulate that experience with creative work that accentuates the beauty in the mundane, showcases the whimsy in the everyday, critiques social inequities, & celebrates imperfection.

on the map

morgan has experience creating in chicago, northern michigan, bulgaria, the netherlands, spain, and in-between.

her work has been featured in rostrum312’s group exhibit in roosevelt collection shops (chicago), gallery cafe - location 1 & 2 (chicago), jackson junge gallery (chicago), project onward at the bridgeport arts center (chicago), the 2021 National Association of Community and Restorative Justice - NACRJ - conference (chicago,), & A.I.R. studio and gallery (glencoe, IL). she has also participated in the 2024 evanston plein air festival.

A woman painting a landscape on a canvas outdoors, sitting on a black chair, with a palette of mixed colors in her hand, surrounded by green plants and flowers.
A woman painting a colorful cityscape on a large outdoor canvas, sitting on the sidewalk.
A woman crouched on the floor painting a colorful cityscape on a large canvas, surrounded by art supplies, in an outdoor setting.

in the studio

the northern loon studio is located in a shared studio space near horner park in chicago.

the address is 4045 n. rockwell ave.

as a working studio for morgan & her studiomates, the studio is open for visits by appointment only.

starting november 2024, morgan will host ‘open studio’ events. sign up for her newsletter to receive invitations to upcoming open studio events directly to your inbox.

A woman standing in a storage room with metal shelves, smiling, wearing a brown jacket, ripped jeans, and has keys hanging from her neck.
An art and craft workspace with shelves, tools, and art supplies. There are pegboards with containers holding supplies, a sketchpad with a colorful building drawing, a table with paint and brushes, and string lights hanging above.
Art gallery with urban cityscape paintings on white walls, a wooden stool, and additional paintings on the floor.

at local shops, markets, & shows

you can find morgan’s art available for purchase at raw edge artisan boutique (lincoln square & michigan avenue locations), wolfbait (logan square), & online here.

morgan does a few annual pop-ups at raw edge artisan boutique in chicago & also participates in as a vendor at local markets in the summer & holiday seasons. to stay updated on upcoming markets, sign up for the monthly newsletter at the bottom of this page.

morgan participates in a handful of group shows each year, which are often hosted by local galleries & businesses. depending on the specific show, morgan’s final works vary in thematic focus, size, & medium. regardless of the show, her approach is the same: pause, take in, reflect, accentuate details, & add layers.

A woman standing behind a table at a market stall with colorful artwork, small jars, and souvenirs for sale. The background features shelves with folded clothes and signs offering discounts.
Woman smiling at a cafe with colorful artwork of flowers on the wall behind her and a chalkboard menu listing summer drinks.
A woman sitting and smiling in a blue shirt at a craft booth display at an outdoor fair. The booth features artwork of buildings on the back wall and various crafts like painted figurines and small painted items on tables and shelves. There is a white canopy overhead and a striped rug on the ground.

in the community

morgan regularly supports organizations that align with her values through in-kind donations of original artwork and prints. in the past, morgan has donated pieces to girls inc., of chicago, uptown united (the uptown chamber of commerce), and project onward.

morgan has experience leading & supporting thoughtful creative workshops for diverse groups. these events include community bread-making sessions in bulgaria, spray paint stencil-making, miniature painting, & intuitive watercolor painting in the netherlands, paint-and-sip in northern michigan, & valentine making in chicago.

murals that morgan designed and painted are out & about in the communities of barcelona, pleven, the hague, & chicago. morgan also has experience as an assistant to fellow artists’ mural projects.

Woman in black top and gray skirt holding a glass of red wine at an event with red lighting and tables with wine bottles and informational signs
A group of five women gathered around a table, with one woman in the center speaking while others listen attentively.
A woman with brown hair and glasses writing white text on a black wall mural using a thin brush.

frequently asked questions

  • I took a few art classes in high school. Other than that, i am self-taught.

  • yup!

  • nope! I do frequent pop-ups in different stores, participate in art markets, & show larger pieces in curated exhibitions.

  • my art is available for purchase at raw edge artisan boutique (lincoln square, wicker park, and michigan avenue locations), wolfbait (logan square), and online here on my site.

  • yup!!! reach out and let’s chat.