Inspired by life and layers, Cara Jane Murray creates with the eye of a multidisciplinary artist and muralist.
Cara’s spirited work explores the imprints of strife and jubilation. Limitless in medium, the strength of her art is rooted in its ability to evoke the inspired human spirit in all of its blunders and triumphs. Her positive, uplifting style serves to remind us that we are both great and small in this wild world.
Born and raised in Southeast Alaska, Cara’s style illustrates an extensive graphic design background combined with a love for contemporary folk art and the expansiveness of Alaska. Both maker and mother, she resolves to stay open, clear and connected to a sense of place while remaining fluid in her spiritual experience.
Cara believes art will continue to serve as the most honest and expansive form of communication that can ever be shared and this is how she gives, heals, rallies courage, loves and illuminates her heart.
Commissions
I am available for a handful of commissions each year. My prices for commissions vary by piece. If you are interested in a commissioned piece, please contact me and we can discuss. All of my art is created from my heart, and in order for me to create a piece that we both can celebrate, I need to feel connected to the subject and be sure that we both set clear expectations for one another. Commissions require a fair amount of faith and trust in your chosen artist and spending a little time together at the outset will ensure that we are a good fit for this collaborative process.
Exhibitions, Installations & Achievements
+ 2023
Anaconda outdoor store entryway Mural. 15’ x 9’ on brick
Jordi’s Cantina wall sized mural, 24’ x 12’ Anaconda Montana
Original portrait for album art. Stephanie Anne Johnson’s new album release "Jewels"
Large commissioned horse painting, (wooden cut out mural) for Jordy’s Cantina
Triptych raven mural for The Ravens Hook art store in Sitka, Alaska
Window mural for Little Things home Decor in Anaconda, Montana
Two-story exterior mural on Galena Street in Butte, Montana
Solo exhibition at Headframe Spirits, June 1, 2023 in Butte, Montana
+ 2022
Poster art for Southeast Alaska State Fair July 28-31, 2022 Haines Alaska
+ 2021
Mural spanning the entire outside of Fish eye coffee company in Sitka Alaska
18-foot paper cut mural for Beautiful Life Boutique in Anaconda Montana
15-foot mural for Little Things Home Decor in Anaconda, Montana
Exterior entry way mural for lone Pine massage and movement in Anaconda, Montana
25-foot mural in Beauty on Broadway Spa in Butte Montana
10-foot mural inside The Bottle & The Barber in Seattle, Washington
When women were birds //solo exhibit at Stoplight Art Gallery
Wildlife art expo featured artist in Anaconda, Montana
+ 2020
Forest to The Sea - Sitka, Alaska Community playground entrance sign art.
Cover art for ‘Curating the House of Nostalgia’- poems by Kersten Christianson
Commissioned large boat painting for Sitka Lighthouse store in Sitka, Alaska
Logo Art for radio station KCAW Raven radio
Collaborative jewelry design with Poppy Peak in Anchorage, Alaska, based off of Cara Murray art original paintings
+ 2019
Works in progress for upcoming show, ‘The Harrow & The Helping’
75’x 8’ Mural at Keet Gooshi Heen in conjunction with an Artist in residence grant for teaching social emotional skills through art.
+ 2018
Collaborations with Roberto Salas: Exhibition of Symbols of Transformation at Amalga Distillery in Juneau, July 6-8
Exhibition of Symbols of Transformation on Adak, Sitka, July 13
+ 2017
Inquiries collaborative exhibition of works with Norman Campbell at Fisherman's Eye Gallery, Sitka
Solo show at Port Chilkoot Distillery, Haines
Exhibition at Annie Kaill’s, Juneau
Solo show at Old Harbor Books, Sitka
+ 2016
The Magpie, Haines
Port Chilkoot Distillery, Haines
The Fishermen’s Eye Gallery (solo), Sitka
+ 2015
Ludvig’s Wine Bar & Art Gallery (solo), Sitka
Home Port Eatery (solo), Sitka
Unity Botanicals, Sitka
Skipping Stone Gallery (solo), Haines
+ 2014
Ludvig’s Wine Bar & Art Gallery (solo), Sitka
Artist’s Cove Gallery, Sitka
Silver Basin, Sitka
Soho Coho Art Gallery, Ketchikan
Back Door Café, Sitka
+ 2013
Ketchikan Area Arts & Humanity Council – various group exhibits
Main Street Gallery, Ketchikan
+ 2012
Ketchikan Dry Goods, Ketchikan
New York Café, Ketchikan
+ 2011
The Point Gallery (solo), Ketchikan
+ 2010
Heart on my Sleeve exhibit, Main Street Gallery, Ketchikan
+ 2008
The Point Gallery, Ketchikan
+ 2007
Scanlon Art Gallery, Ketchikan
+ 2006
First National Bank of Anchorage, Haines Branch
Extreme Dreams Art Gallery (John Svenson), Haines
+ Public Art
12'x15' Hanging Exterior Mural 'Prayer Flags' at Baranof Elementary, Sitka
10'x4' Interior Installation mural completed with students through
R.E.A.C.H. Installed inside Baranof Elementary, Sitka
90’x18’ Exterior mural on Market Center, Sitka (commissioned)
75’x12’Exterior mural for Mt Edgecumbe High School on cultural building, Sitka
65’x12’ Exterior mural for Haines School at entrance to school grounds, Haines
25’x5’ Canvas mural created with the help of 100+ community members (currently on display at UAS Sitka Campus, Sitka)
+ Achievements
Designed the Fawn Mountain Elementary School Logo
Creator of the Ketchikan Area Arts & Humanity Council slogan, “Art Lives Here”
Artist in schools: Fawn Mt. Elementary & Houghtling Elementary.
Ketchikan – taught art with different ages of students in classrooms & with after school programs.
Artist in residence at Baranof Elementary, Sitka. Created a 12'x15' cedar 'Prayer Flag' permanent installation with the entire student body.
Artist on campus at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Sitka
Worked with a group of students to create a large-scale mural depicting their emotional and cultural connection to place and a subsistence way of life.
Artist workshops organized through Sitka Arts & Humanities Council (painted wall carvings)
Commissioned to create a large-scale painting (15-feet long x 5-feet tall) for Southeast Pediatric Dentistry, Ketchikan
Created the KRBD Radio Station in Ketchikan’s logo – “Rise & Shine” for placement on mugs, etc.
Designed and sold band posters for the group, Red Molly for their concert tour.
Logo for Lindsey Bolling Photography.
Logo for the Blueberry Art Festival in Ketchikan (placed on t-shirts, etc.)
Currently displayed and hung downtown 9 months of the year, the City of Sitka purchased my 8-foot art for banners.
Created current art logo for Sitka Health Summit, MAPP assessment diagram
Currently I have art in several private collections nationwide.
Several pieces sold, reprinted and distributed into cards by Taku Graphics, Juneau
Large-scale mural outside of the Botanika Organic Spa, currently at Fly-In Fish-Inn, Sitka
Designed and created posters for Wearable Arts, Sitka
Designed and created large-scale paper-cut poster for Sitka Music Festival