As part of our series profiling graduating seniors, we are highlighting Edward Murphy ’25, Photography and Imaging, whose work, Burn Piles, won Gold at Best of Ringling 2025 for Photography. The photograph is from the series Manifest Expansion, which documents the landscape of new development in the region.
The photographs depict scarred landscapes, cleared for building and sometimes mid-construction, that look more like war zones than signs of growth or prosperity.
Murphy explains, “The work is meant to get our community thinking about how our area, and Florida in general, are rapidly expanding and destroying our environment and hurricane defenses.”
Growing up in the neighboring town of Venice, Florida, Murphy has a strong relationship to the land here. He recalls adventures with his dad, walking on trails, learning about snakes, and hearing his father’s stories of being chased by wild boars. He watched that land transform into strip malls and housing developments.
“With these images, I didn’t want to glorify the destruction, but instead show what other artists don’t always show: not the distant, federally protected lands, but what we’re doing now, right next door,” he shared.
After graduation, Murphy plans to continue working on this series and further his research into the impact of expansion happening here in Florida and throughout the United States. He also plans to join the Navy as a photographer next year.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest Ringling College news in your inbox.
Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008
