Inside the Studio
Exhibitions
Homemaking
Curated by Heather Moqtaderi, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
April 1- August 17, 2026
Reception: April 19, 1-3 pm
Home Making is a solo exhibition by artist Deidre Murphy that explores how birds, insects, plants and humans create—and often co-create—homes and habitats. Paintings in the exhibition artistically represent migratory birds and their nests, as well as tree cavities that many bird species call home. Murphy’s process of sketching and painting outdoors lends a palpable energy and spontaneity to the artworks, conveying the excitement of time spent observing birds and their habitats. Prints in Murphy’s Herbarium series were made by pressing native grasses and flowering plants, creatively celebrating the “herbarium” method of preserving and studying plants.
Field Notes: Learning to See
Two Person Collaborative Drawing Exhibition with Yvonne Love & Deirdre Murphy
John James Audubon Historic Estate
Curated by Heather Moqtaderi, Senior Curator
April 1- August 17, 2026
Field Notes: Learning to See is a collaborative exhibition by Yvonne Love and Deirdre Murphy, inspired by over five decades of daily naturalist field notes kept by Yvonne's parents, Naomi and Bill Murphy - devoted birders and lifelong observers of the natural word. Inheriting a shared practice of observation from their scientist parents, Love and Murphy engage across mediums and generations, translating decades of bird counts, and handwritten logs into visual arts. The project will be exhibited at the John James Audubon House (April-September 2026) before traveling to Millersville University (September - October 2026), and the Heidi Lowe Gallery in Lewes, DE in 2027.
EVENT
Join artists Yvonne Love and Deirdre Murphy for nature journaling at the Discovery Center. The artists will begin by sharing images from their collaborative artworks that blend birdwatching data with handpainting, cut paper, and collage. Participants will then join the artists on a nature journaling session where they will create annotated drawings of plants. No experience or artistic ability is necessary. Pencils and notebooks will be provided, or bring your own.
This event coincides with Love and Murphy’s exhibitions on view at The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove from April 18 - August 16, 2026. The artists partnered on artworks in Field Notes: Learning to See, on view in the historic house at Mill Grove. Deirdre Murphy’s paintings are featured in the solo exhibition Deirdre Murphy: Home Making, on view in the visitor center and historic house.
Here and Now
100 Years of LUAG, 100 Local Artists
September 2, 2025 - May 22, 2026
From the art and engineering of the first Lenape inhabitants, through the upheavals of the steel and railroad industries, to the hi-tech manufacturing of today, makers and innovators of all kinds have found a home in the Lehigh Valley.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this maker mindset found its way into the DNA of Lehigh University, shaping both artists and engineers. Lehigh University’s founder, Asa Packer, was a creative entrepreneur: a carpenter and boat-builder who believed in a well-rounded education. Built on this creative spirit, LUAG has championed the power of art since 1926 – the year of the first known art exhibition on campus.
A century later, the museum provides art experiences for all, offering dynamic programming and meaningful art education to learners of all ages. Exhibitions in our galleries represent artworks from both globally-recognized institutions and from LUAG’s own collection of more than 20,000 works of art.
research
Golden Wing Warbler photos and research text highlighting The Aviary
Academy of Natural Science
Special Collections Lehigh University
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residencies
Lower Merion Conservancy
Climate Action Artist in Residence
The Lower Merion Conservancy is pleased to announce Deirdre Murphy as the inaugural Conservatory Climate Action artist-in-residence. The Conservatory is devoted to protecting and promoting environmental wellness and sustainable public land management as well as historic preservation to promote conservation and climate change awareness. Murphy will produce her Contemporary Herbarium print series based on native pollinators from the cottage studio garden and use the forest as inspiration for her studio painting practice. The Conservancy advocates for policies, programs, projects and has a youth education program in which she will participate.
Deirdre Murphy
is a contemporary visual artist whose work bridges art, science, and ecology. Through painting, printmaking, and sculpture, she explores the delicate interconnections between avian life, ecosystems, and the climate crisis. Her collaborations with scientists and environmental institutions deepen her practice, creating art that celebrates the natural world while advocating for its preservation.