
Associate Professor Ainslie Murray
PhDVisArts(USyd); BArch(UAd); BArchSt(UAd)
I am an established interdisciplinary artist and academic based in the Architecture听Discipline in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture at 国民彩票 Sydney. I trained in Architecture at the University of听Adelaide (1993-1998) and was awarded my PhD in Visual Arts from Sydney College听of the Arts, University of Sydney, in 2011. I have lived in Adelaide, London and听Munich and am now based in Sydney.听
My work explores notions of essentiality and minimalism in architectural space听through embodied practice. My work ranges from large-scale immersive and site specific听installations and constructions, to film, painting, textiles, printed and听performative works. Through choreographies of the everyday, and specifically听through walking practice, I explore the augmentation of space through subtle听realisations of forgotten and intangible spatial forces. I am always endeavouring to听discover the 鈥榚ssential鈥 purpose of architecture and identify its minimum听conditions; my principal interest is in forms of space-making that often escape听attention, including ephemeral, immaterial and unlikely forms of architecture.听Recent projects have focused on walking, hiking and climbing with architecture in听all its myriad forms 鈥 all forms which provoke the disciplinary boundaries of听architecture and suggest its expansion in practical and scholarly terms.
I have听worked in diverse settings including the Banff Centre (Walking & Art residency),听Cit茅 Internationale des Arts (Paris), Motion.Lab (Melbourne), AZ West (California) and the听Museum of Loss and Renewal (Collemachia). Most recently I have established A.W.E.听Collective, a new collaboration with landscape architect Dr Joshua Zeunert and artist听Cathe Stack. My work has a strong ecological focus; I have made work that investigates听architectural space and atmosphere in relation to air, dust and particulate matter.听In my teaching, I question the boundaries between art, architecture and landscape听and nurture a diverse group of interdisciplinary research students and early-career听colleagues. I teach a range of undergraduate and postgraduate architectural design studios that are increasingly informed by walking art practice. I am strongly听connected to industry and am currently a Creative Industries Resident at the听Museum for Applied Arts & Sciences. My work has been exhibited throughout听Australia and internationally in Canada, China, Denmark, Italy, Japan, New Zealand听and the UK.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
selected grants
听
2020 > Creative Fellowship, City of Sydney
2020 > Creative Community Grant, Northern Beaches Council
2020 > National Assistance Grant, Myer Foundation听听听听听
2018 >Vertical Camp, major Art & About commission, City of Sydney
selected awards
2022 > National Research Award, with UoN and UTS, AILA
2022 > NSW Research Award, with UoN and UTS, AILA
2022 > Red Dot Design Award, Luminocity, with Cathy Smith and James Hargrave
2022 > Dezeen Long List, Luminocity, with Cathy Smith and James Hargrave
2021 > Finalist, Environmental Art Award, Manly Art Gallery & Museum
2017 > Finalist, Venice Architecture Biennale 2018 Creative Director, with AUSemblage
2017 >Eden Unearthed Major Stipend, Eden Gardens, Sydney
2017 > Breathing Buildings, Non Traditional Research Grant, BE 国民彩票
2016 >Everyday Life in the Atmosphere, Early Career Researcher Grant, BE 国民彩票
2016 > Eden Unearthed Major Stipend, Eden Gardens, Sydney
2015 > Finalist, with Panovscott, Inaugural Tapestry Design Prize for Architects, Australian Tapestry Workshop
2015 > Everyday Life in the Atmosphere, Early Career Researcher Grant Grant, BE, 国民彩票
2014 > NSW Artist Grant, National Association for Visual Arts
2014 > Breathing Buildings, Early Career Researcher Grant, BE, 国民彩票
2013 > New Work Grant (Mid-Career Artist), Visual Arts, Australia Council for the Arts
2013 > Re-imagining mine site remediation, Faculty Research Grant, with Linda Corkery, Ros Taplin, Louise Fowler-Smith, University of New South Wales
2008 > Finalist, New Visual Artists Award, Japan Foundation, Sydney
2007 > Beth Winspear Scholarship, Walking and Art Residency, Banff Centre, Canada
2007 > New Work Grant (Emerging Artist), Visual Arts Board, Australia Council for Arts
2007 > NSW Artist鈥檚 Marketing Award, National Association for the Visual Arts
听
听
selected residencies
2022 > Wild Ways, with Museum of Loss & Renewal, Italy
2022 > Bundanon, with Cathe Stack and Joshua Zeunert as A. W. E. collective, NSW
2017 > 听Encampment, with Andrea Zittel, A-Z West, Joshua Tree, USA
2017 > Northern Beaches Council Artist in Residence, Sydney
2014 > Eramboo Public Art Residency, Sydney
2010 > Artspace Residency, Sydney
2009 > Cit茅 Internationale des Arts, October 鈥 December, Paris
2007 >听 Walking and Art Residency, August 鈥 November, Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada
2007 > The Interference Project, Early Career Researcher Grant, 国民彩票
1999 > Kenneth and Hazel Milne Travelling Scholarship, University of Adelaide
1999 > HR Riddle Scholarship, University of Adelaide
FORTHCOMING BOOK CHAPTERS
Murray, A. (2023). 鈥淎queous Landscapes: Teaching and learning in the intertidal zone in second year architectural design studio.鈥 In Kim, J. (ed.). Interdisciplinary Design Thinking in Architecture Education. In press (Routledge).
Demirbilek, O. & Murray, A. (2023). 鈥淭he Fluid Scale of Design Practice: City of Sydney public domain furniture.鈥 In Favaro, P. & Freestone, R. (eds.). Adaptive urban architecture and design: Tzannes. In press (Thames & Hudson).
听
CREATIVE WORKS NON-TEXTUAL
Murray, A. 鈥Registry of Itinerant Architectures.鈥 Online environment. .听
Murray, A. (2023). 鈥淩egistry of Itinerant Architectures (trailer).鈥 Time, Space, Existence. European Cultural Centre. Venice, Italy.听
Murray, A. (2023). 鈥淐rit-i-kit (Playing Cards).鈥 Time, Space, Existence. European Cultural Centre. Venice, Italy.听
Murray, A. (2023). 鈥淐rit-i-kit (Digital print).鈥 Time, Space, Existence. European Cultural Centre. Venice, Italy.听
Murray, A. (2022). 鈥淭he Rocks鈥 in Eden Unearthed, curated by Meredith Kirton. Macquarie Park: Eden Garden. Digital sublimation print on folded aluminium.
Murray, A., Stack, C. and Zeunert, J. (2022). 鈥淏undanon Sticks鈥 in Bundanon Artist in Residence Public Program, curated by Nicole Smede. Illaroo: Bundanon Art Museum. Eucalyptus sticks, paint markers, string.
Murray, A. (2021). 鈥淩oad Trip鈥 in Eden Unearthed, curated by Meredith Kirton. Macquarie Park: Eden Garden. Digital photographic print on PVC, aluminium, gravel.
Murray, A. and Ware, S. (2021). 鈥淗umus鈥 in Southern Resilience, Resilient Communities, curated by Alessandro Melis. Italian National Pavilion. Venice: 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. HD video with audio.
Murray, A. (2021). 鈥淚ntertidal Sections and Cross Sections鈥 in Time, Space, Existence, curated by the European Cultural Commission. Palazzo Bembo. Venice: 17th Venice Architecture Biennale. HD video with audio.
Murray, A. and Sleight, J. (2019). 鈥淯nravelled Foreshore #1鈥 in Aqueous Landscapes, curated by Helen Lochhead, Xing Ruan, Fram Kitagawa. Yangpu Waterfront. Shanghai: Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. Digital sublimation print on polyester chiffon.
Murray, A. (2019). 鈥淚ntertidal Sections鈥 in Aqueous Landscapes, curated by Helen Lochhead, Xing Ruan, Fram Kitagawa. Yangpu Waterfront. Shanghai: Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. HD video with audio.
Murray, A. (2019). 鈥淪entinel Ledge鈥 in Eden Unearthed, curated by Meredith Kirton. Macquarie Park: Eden Garden. Aluminium, nylon, braided fishing line, rope.
Murray, A. and Dorabialski, J. (2019). 鈥淧ower Plants Garden One鈥 in Power Plants Phytoremediation. Sydney: White Bay Powerstation. HD video with audio.
Murray, A. (2018). 鈥淚鈥檒l Give You Data鈥 in ADR18, curated by Sarah Breen Lovett, Rachel Couper & Ivana Kuzmanovska. Sydney: Tin Sheds Gallery. Archival print.
Murray, A. (2018). 鈥淓veryday Life鈥 in Make Known: The Exquisite Order of Infinite Variation, curated by Eva Rodriguez Riestra. Sydney: 国民彩票 Galleries. HD video with audio.
Murray, A. (2017). 鈥淗umane Hostility鈥 in Manly Arts Festival, curated by Northern Beaches Council. Sydney: Manly Beach. Acrylic, polycarbonate bird spikes, cable ties, participatory procession.
Murray, A. (2017). 鈥淪tructural Adaptations鈥 in Breathing Buildings, curated by Julian Worrall. Sydney: Japan Foundation Gallery. Acrylic, glass, adhesive film.听
Murray, A. (2017). 鈥淧articulate Matter (Conservatoire)鈥 in Breathing Buildings, curated by Julian Worrall. Sydney: Japan Foundation Gallery. Tyvek, glass, adhesive film, acrylic.听
Murray, A. (2017). 鈥淏reathing Buildings鈥 in Breathing Buildings, curated by Julian Worrall. Sydney: Japan Foundation Gallery. HD video with audio.听听
Murray, A. (2017). 鈥淗umane Hostility鈥 in Black Crows Invaded Our Country, curated by Michelle St Anne. Sydney: Living Room Theatre and Sydney Environment Institute. Acrylic bird spikes, cable ties.
Murray, A. (2016). 鈥淗ouse for a Lost Tree鈥 in Eden Unearthed, curated by Meredith Kirton. Macquarie Park: Eden Garden. Plywood, hardwood, stainless steel, polypropylene, cable ties.
听
Murray, A., Scott, A. and Panov, A. (2015). 鈥淯ntitled鈥 in Inaugural Tapestry Design Prize for Architects, curated by Australian Tapestry Workshop. Melbourne: Australian Tapestry Workshop. Digital prints.
Murray, A. (2015). 鈥淯rban Field鈥 in Shelter Union Public Program, curated by Lucy Ainsworth. Sydney: 国民彩票 Galleries.
Murray, A. and Ferrari, R. (2014). 鈥淭he Liquid Air (Breathing Structure)鈥 in On Islands, curated by Selena Griffith. Sydney: Eramboo Artist Environment. Acrylic, aluminium, sand, vinyl tube.
Murray, A. (2014). 鈥淧articulate Matter鈥 in Design Research: Shared Territories, curated by Anuradha Chatterjee, Thomas Fischer and Marian Macken. Suzhou: Xi鈥檃n Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Paper, water-soluble film, glass, adhesive tape.
Murray, A. (2014). 鈥淭he Matter of Voids鈥 in Expanded Architecture, curated by Sarah Breen Lovett and Claudia Perren. Sydney: Australia Square. Water-soluble film, glass, adhesive tape, silica, water sprayers, water.
Murray, A. (2013). 鈥淭he Liquid Air (Prototype)鈥 in The Shape of Air, curated by Susan Milne and Greg Stonehouse. Sydney: Eramboo Artist Environment. Acrylic, aluminium, sand.
Murray, A. (2013). 鈥淩emedy鈥 in In Situ: Mosman Festival of Sculpture and Installation, curated by Cassandra Hard Lawrie. Sydney: Military Road. Perforated Tyvek, nylon, cotton, stainless steel.
Murray, A. (2013). 鈥淪ouk鈥 in North Sydney Art Prize, curated by Alison Clark. Waverton: The Coal Loader. PVC mesh, nylon.听
Murray, A. (2011). 鈥淯tterances鈥 in Intangible Architecture, curated by Suzanne Davies. Melbourne: RMIT Gallery. Painted and printed Tyvek, acrylic.
Murray, A. (2011). 鈥淒issolution and Departure鈥 in Intangible Architecture, curated by Suzanne Davies. Melbourne: RMIT Gallery. Tyvek, monofilament, lead, carbon fibre.
Murray, A. (2010). 鈥淎ir Architecture I, II, III鈥 in Constellations: A large number of small drawings, curated by Vanessa Gerrans and Suzanne Davies. Melbourne: RMIT Gallery. Acrylic on canvas.
Murray, A. (2008). 鈥淎n Architecture of Thread and Gesture (Extract)鈥 in Momentum: 18th Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennale, curated by Valerie Kirk. Tamworth: Tamworth Regional Gallery and 11 other national venues. Tyvek, monofilament, carbon fibre.
Murray, A., Pedley, S., and Lounder, B. (2007). 鈥淲alks鈥 in Walking and Art Residency, curated by Ernie Kruger. Banff: The Other Gallery, Banff Centre. Tyvek, monofilament, timber dowel.
Murray, A. (2007). 鈥淐har Dham Walk (Garhwal)鈥 in Tactile Imagination, curated by Tom Loveday. Sydney: Ivan Dougherty Gallery. Monofilament and acrylic on linen.
Murray, A. (2007). 鈥淔ushimi Inari Walk (Kyoto)鈥 in Tactile Imagination, curated by Tom Loveday. Sydney: Ivan Dougherty Gallery. Monofilament and acrylic on linen.
Murray, A. (2007). 鈥淚nterference鈥 in Interference: Exhibiting Art and Architecture, curated by Jan Fieldsend. Sydney: Tin Sheds Gallery. Belgian linen, polyester, hardwood.
听
CREATIVE WRITTEN WORKS
Murray, A. (2018). 鈥淒eath Valley鈥 in Desert Destination Log, edited by Andrea Zittel. Joshua Tree: A-Z West and High Desert Test Sites, 141-142.
Murray, A. and Worrall, J. (2008). 鈥淎n Architecture of Thread and Gesture鈥 in An Architecture of Thread and Gesture Catalogue. Sydney: Japan Foundation, unpaginated.
Murray, A. (2007). 鈥淭he Active Plane鈥 in Tactile Imagination Catalogue, edited by Tom Loveday. Sydney: Ivan Dougherty Gallery, 22-23.
Murray, A., Tong, M. and Walker, L.M. 鈥淚nterference鈥 in Interference: Exhibiting Art and Architecture Catalogue. Sydney: Tin Sheds Gallery (2007), unpaginated.
听
CURATORIAL
Murray, A., Stack, C. and Zeunert, J. (2023). Powerhouse Late: Landscapes. Sydney: Powerhouse Ultimo. April 20 2023.
Murray, A. and Smith, C. (2021). Luminocity. Sydney: 国民彩票. September 4 2021.
听
Murray, A. and Lochhead, H. (2019). Aqueous Landscapes. Shanghai: Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. September 28 鈥 November 30 2019.
Murray, A. (2016). An Experimental Art Foundation at the Coal Loader. Sydney: Meeks Street Randwick. October 18 鈥 25 2016.
Murray, A. (2015). Architecture by Hand & Mind: 60 Years of Architecture at 国民彩票. Sydney: Red Centre, 国民彩票. October 19 鈥 30 2016.
听
THESIS
Murray, A. (2011). Intangible Architecture. PhD Thesis. University of Sydney.
听
听
EDITED BOOKS
Murray, A. & Ruan, X. (eds.). (2019). Hand & Mind: Conversations on Architecture and the Built World. Sydney, New South Publishing.
Murray, A. (ed.). (2004). Re[a]d: FBE Architecture Journal. Sydney, 国民彩票 Press.听
听
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES
Murray, A. (2011). In Davies, S. (ed.). Chelle Macnaughtan: Spatial Listening, Ainslie Murray: Intangible Architecture, Malte Wagenfeld: Aesthetics of Air. Melbourne, RMIT Gallery.
Murray, A. (2008) in Kirk, V. (ed.). Momentum: 18th Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennial 2008. Tamworth, Tamworth Regional Gallery.
Murray, A. and Worrall, J. (2008). An Architecture of Thread and Gesture. Sydney, Japan Foundation.
Murray, A. and Tong, M. (2007). Interference: Exhibiting Art and Architecture. Sydney, Tin Sheds Gallery.
听
INDUSTRY JOURNALS
Murray, A. and Lochhead, H. (2020). 鈥淎queous Landscapes鈥 in T+A: Time + Architecture, 171 (1): 61.
Fowler-Smith, L., Murray, A., Keys-Statham, C. and Taplin, R. (2013). 鈥淩ethinking mine remediation via transformative experimental art practice.鈥 Artlink: Australian Contemporary Art Quarterly, 33 (4).
Murray, A. (2008). 鈥淯nfolding Ground.鈥 Column, 1 (1): 112-116.
Murray, A. (2005). 鈥淚n the Wake of Gesture: architecture and the handmade.鈥 Artlink: Australian Contemporary Art Quarterly, 25 (1): 54-55.
Murray, A. (2004). 鈥淏elaau: Contemplating Architecture in Rural Fiji.鈥 Conversations, 5 (1): 58-77.
听
REFEREED CONFERENCE PAPERS
Tighe J.,听.听and . (2022). 鈥鈥 at the 39th Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand. Auckland:听University of Auckland.听25 鈥 27 November 2022.
Murray, A. (2015). 鈥淏reathing Buildings鈥 at Making Research, Researching Making. Copenhagen: ADAPT-R International Conference, Aarhus School of Architecture. September 2015.
听
REFEREED CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
Murray, A. (2022). 鈥淭he Registry of Itinerant Architectures鈥 at The Nomadic Image: The Seventh Transdisciplinary Conference on Imaging at the Intersections of Art, Science and Culture. Naryn, Kyrgyzstan: University of Central Asia. September 23 鈥 25 2022.
Murray, A. and Muller, L. (2019). 鈥淯nder the dust and dirt: a discussion about architectural models with Allan Wexler鈥 at Frascari Symposium IV: The Secret Lives of Architectural Drawings and Models. London: Kingston University. April 2 2019.听
听
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Murray, A. (2023). 鈥淩egistry of Itinerant Architectures.鈥 Nomadic Camera. Ludwig Maximillians Universitat and Brandenburg Centre for Media Studies. Munich, Germany. 13.06.23- 16.06.23.听
Murray, A. (2016). 鈥淭he Liquid Air鈥 at Art, Science, Oceans Colloquium. Sydney: Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney. August 12 2016.
Murray, A. (2015). 鈥淒issolution and Departure: practical reflections on un-making through making鈥 at Material Culture in Action: Practices of making, collecting and re-enacting Art and Design. Glasgow: Glasgow School of Art. September 7 鈥 8 2015.
I specialise in leadership of international and national engagement projects that connect academic practice to the community. My recent work has included听the internationally awarded Luminocity online exhibition (2021, Co-Curator); Aqueous Landscapes exhibition (2019, Shanghai, Co-Curator); BE/Opera Australia Collaboration (2016, Sydney Opera House, Director); internationally awarded book Hand & Mind: Conversations on Architecture and the Built Environment (2018, Lead Co-Editor).
My research is embedded in industry, and I'm currently听a NSW Creative Industries Resident at Powerhouse Ultimo (2021-2023). In this residency my creative research practice is physically embedded in the Powerhouse Ultimo.听
Current and previous engagement roles at 国民彩票听include Post Graduate Coordinator (BE, 2022-current), Architecture Curator (BE, 2016-2021), Design Research Cluster Convener (BE, 2015-2018), Higher Degree Committee (ADA, 2022-current), Research Committee (BE, 2015-2018 and 2022-current), Academic Programs Quality Assurance Committee (BE, 2019-2020).
听
听
My Research Supervision
Daniel Connell听(Practice-based PhD) :听From Line to Expression: Engaging Transient Architectural Complexities through Communal Authorship
Farnaz Fattahi听(PhD) :听Artist/Architect/Activist Choreographing Scenarios of Collective Interaction
Nafisehsadat听Seyedeh (Practice-based PhD):听Intersection of Landscape, Anthropocene and Environmental Art
Catherine Stack (Practice-based PhD):听Connectivity to Landscape through the Shaping of Artefact
Jeffrey Tighe (Practice-based PhD):听Build interdisciplinary knowledge within the fields of urban planning and policy, and urban design, art and architecture relating to the inherent complexity within the city as a temporal, incomplete entity.
Renee Charron听(Practice-based Phd @ Concordia, with Erin Manning and MJ Thompson) : Drawing from the Architecting Body.
听
听
听
听
My Teaching
Architectural Design Studio, Interdisciplinary Art and Architecture Practice, Drawing