Caitlin Murphy (she/her)

Situated in the first octant of 3D space, XYZ is a collection of forms derived through a three-dimensional coordinate system. Point, line, plane allows the forms to grow and manifest. Using these boundaries as parameters for formula and equations, the work materialises through steel structures. Through a meditative process of weaving, the surface area comes to life in a variety of patterns and illusions. XYZ is an ongoing collection of works that challenge conventional ideas of traditional silversmithing; the axis gives them a 3D space to visualise and interact with, and allows new observations to form.
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XYZ

Weave XL
This piece is one of my largest pieces to date. Experimenting with weaving paper initially led me to test how metal would work in a similar way. The fluid frame was designed by myself but manufactured by the welding department within GSA. The piece can be hung on the wall or displayed on a table top as a sculptural piece.
Weave XL
This piece is one of my largest pieces to date. Experimenting with weaving paper initially led me to test how metal would work in a similar way. The fluid frame was designed by myself but manufactured by the welding department within GSA. The piece can be hung on the wall or displayed on a table top as a sculptural piece.
Fluid Form
This piece was designed to challenge the boundaries of surface area and how it could be formed. Looking at a flat surface and seeing how it can be redesigned through folding thin strips of metal. This piece is designed to be a sculptural piece that rests on a mantle piece as a decorative feature.
Napkin Stack
This piece was designed with a function in mind. My aim was to create a piece that could be both beautiful yet functional. They are a set of 8 napkin rings. The idea is that the napkin rings can be stacked to create whatever pattern the owner desires. This adds a fun element to the dinner table after the pieces have been used.
Fluid Circle
Fluid circle is designed to see what forms can be made surrounding a standard cylindrical form. The metal additions break out of the boundaries to give an intriguing overall look. This piece is designed to sit as a decorative feature for the mantlepiece or table.
Illusion Cube
The illusion cube is designed to challenge the eye. This is by far my most confusing and technically challenging weave. The pattern aims to draw your eye into the centre of each side but also question and confuse. This piece is designed as a sculptural form that can be displayed however the owner desires. Whether this be on a mantlepiece or as a centre piece for a dining table.
Ghost Vessel
I describe this vessel as a ghost vessel due to its ghostly features. Most of my weaves add to their frames as a complete surface area. However, not only does this form not have a ‘complete’ frame, as it only has one leg, but it also has a slightly incomplete weave. I see this object as being perfectly imperfect, showing how the design doesn’t always have to be a perfectly well finished form to become a finished piece. I see this object as a beautiful sculptural piece that can be used as desired by its owner.
Little To Large
Little to large is based on ratios and are sculptural objects. I see my whole collection as a group of objects, however, I often find various smaller groups within the group. These four pieces work together. As the wire frame increases in size, the corresponding weave adjusts accordingly. Therefore, you see the weave changing as you move from the smallest to the biggest. This set of four can be arranged in multiple ways depending on how the owner decides to place them.
Big Pyramid
This piece is designed to hang on the wall as a sculptural object, or some might see it as a metal painting. It can also sit as an object for the table as well. I love the fluid texture seen on the top surface. This piece began with strips of thin metal. Through a process of corrugating and folding the piece began to come to life as each element was added to the wireframe.
Wee Weave
This piece is one of my smallest pieces. I wanted to show the wide range of scale my work could vary from with this piece. The frame itself is a cuboid shape with only one side of weave attached. The weave is formed from copper strips, press formed and oxidised to give the black finish. I love how this piece can sit with some of the other work and form a group.
Wire Illusion
My aim with this piece was to achieve illusional patterns but using only wire to do so. This piece began as a steel frame cuboid. In order to create my own illusion pattern I added multiple wire elements to two sides of the frame. One side going in a vertical pattern and the other going in a horizontal pattern. As a result, this piece looks different from all angles. It is designed as a sculptural piece to question and confuse the eye.
Bubble Brass
This piece was one of the first within my collection and it really opened so many avenues for me and my making. It began as a cube wireframe. I press formed a lot of woven brass sheets at the beginning of my collection to try and get the bubble effect. As the four sides were attached, they each intertwined with one another to form a flawless corner that gave the illusion that there was no inner structure. As I attached along the top and bottom however I decided to add a glimpse of the steel frame to give a hint of what may be inside. This is a sculptural piece designed for however the user desires.
Small Pyramid
This piece is designed for the wall but can also function as a sculptural piece for the table sitting in multiple ways. The pyramid frame tapers into the top surface being filled with an oxidised copper woven sheet. To add depth I press formed a round circle within the woven sheet. I love how this contrasts to the structural qualities of the outer frame.
Corrugated Weave
This piece is woven with a twist. After making the wireframe I decided to add a woven element. I wanted it to be something that was subtly beautiful but delicate at the same time. Through weaving corrugated strips of brass I began to get patterns within a pattern. Each cube that would usually be a block colour began to have a textured surface. These work in alternates, switching between horizontal and vertical. Overall, I love how this piece turned out. It is designed to be a sculptural object with room for smaller vessels to fill the voids of negative space within it.
Circles
Circles began by looking at how a basic cube frame could be represented in a new way. Echoing the form of a wireframe cube this piece questions the eye through its surface texture. Composed of 16 press formed elements, this piece questions materiality as the metal reveals a paper texture. The wireframe is made up of corresponding steel circles, allowing the press formed elements to be attached securely. This piece is perfect as a centre piece for the table or simply a beautiful sculpture for your home.
Cluster
This piece is designed exactly as its title describes. It is a cluster of fluid forms overspilling from the wireframe. However, in order to confuse the eye more the frame takes the form of a rhombas rather than a structured cuboid. The surface area fills either horizontal side. This fills the void and leaves little room for negative space. It is a sculptural piece that can be used as desired by the owner.
Hexagon
This piece aims to achieve illusional patterns with steel wires. I wanted to create a piece that had a new shape I hadn’t tried before. I have always loved how well balanced a hexagon looks and the symmetry it provides. I created an outer wire form, leaving the centre as a void for possibilities. I see this piece as a sculptural object that could be combined with some of my other forms allowing the user to build their own piece.
Double Side
This is one of my larger pieces. I see this piece representing the overall properties of my wireframe cubes. Only two sides have a surface area weave as I wanted to show the ghost of the vessel frame on the other side. I see this piece as a sculptural form that can sit alone or with other smaller vessels sitting within its negative space.
XYZ Final Collection Video
For my final collection I wanted to make a video. For most of my objects one image is not really enough to give the full perspective. I decided to use stop motion to give a 360 account for each object in my collection. These have been split into individual clips but also compiled into one main final video.
XYZ Digital Portfolio Video
As part of our final year we had to do a digital portfolio. Up until now my final collection has been focused on the colour scheme SGB / Silver, Gold, Black. As I transferred into the digital realm I began to adopt the RGB / Red, Green, Blue colour scheme. These pieces look into what happens if we spill beyond the first octant of 3D space, into the unseen 7 octants. The pieces follow patterns and formula such as repetition, multiplying etc…
XYZ Wearables
Brooch and Hoop Earrings
Materials: Sterling Silver
These are two wearables made in addition to my final collection. I wanted to make something to wear for degree show that was a scaled down version of an existing silversmithing piece of mine. This brooch and pair of hoops are inspired by my napkin ring stack.
The South Square Trust
Silversmithing Scholarships:
‘The South Square Trust offers support for students in their final year at selected UK universities. Each year we award four awards to final year undergraduate students specialising in silver. The Trustees ask the course leaders at universities offering silversmithing courses to send in nominations for the Award for review; only one from each collage is selected. The awards started in September 2018.’
I am so grateful to have been awarded a scholarship from the South Square Trust for my final year. This was a massive help for me in developing my collection. The bursary really allowed me to experiment in ways and in scales I couldn’t have imagined.