Exhibition:
“Forever was here.”
CLOSING DEC 2025
This marks Malcolm Murphy’s second exhibition at Cathays Gallery, following the success of last year’s show. The exhibition also features works by David Lewis and Francine Davies, together with highlights from our ongoing collection.
Cathays Gallery is delighted to present the latest works by Malcolm Murphy, alongside his much-loved depictions of Cardiff’s landmarks.
Admission: Free
Open daily: 09:30am – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 1pm
Location: 177 Malefant St, Cardiff
“Eros”. Aerosal and oil on board.
“David”. Aerosal and oil on board.
“Cupid & Psych”. Aerosal and oil on board.
Over the past year, Murphy has developed a striking new style that merges his street art and graffiti roots with depictions of monumental cultural icons. Through this dialogue between tradition and urban expression, his work explores what endures and what is lost within the human cultural and urban experience.
Alongside his new work, Murphy is also exhibiting his much-loved depictions of Cardiff’s streets. Widely recognised for their detail and intimacy, these paintings continue his ongoing documentation of the city with both precision and personal insight. Having begun his artistic journey as a teenage graffiti artist, his lived experience of creating in the streets of Cardiff has evolved into a practice that captures the spirit and memory of place.
Influenced by his immediate surroundings, Murphy’s work blends the visual languages of renaissance sculpture, photorealism, graffiti, and 1960s signage, resulting in a body of work that is both contemporary and deeply rooted in cultural history.
“It’s Malcsy Damn It! Wales Millenium Center.” Oil on board
“I have been lucky enough to learn over the last 4 decades a showcase of past and present skills a melting pot or celebration of combination of styles.”
MALCOLM MURPHY
Malcolm’s artistic journey began in his teenage years with the raw energy of American graffiti. Its bold lines, colours and freedom of expression left a lasting mark on his imagination. Over time, he expanded his practice into traditional sign writing and oil painting, building a foundation of craftsmanship that would later merge with his early street art influences.
Today, Murphy creates striking works that bring together graffiti and classical art. Renaissance-inspired figures, such as Michelangelo’s David, appear against graffiti-covered backdrops, uniting two traditions often seen in opposition. This collision of styles reflects both continuity and disruption: the refinement of realism set against the immediacy of spray paint. By merging past and present, tradition and rebellion, Malcolm explores how art evolves while questioning its role in contemporary culture.
OTHER ARTISTS IN THE WALL
“Heritage”. Mixed media.
DAVID LEWIS
Inspired by the shifting moods of the Welsh coast and the rhythm of urban spaces, David works primarily in oil to explore the emotional power of colour. Through layered brushwork and bold, abstract forms, his work captures fleeting moments of light, movement, and memory held within land, sea, and city.
“Heritage”. Mixed media.
FRANCINE DAVIES
A self-taught artist and daily sea swimmer, she draws inspiration from the ocean, incorporating found plastics and natural pigments into her work to explore our connection to nature—and the urgent impact of pollution on coastal life.
“Galatea of the Spheres (Dali)” Cross stitch
BETHAN WILLIAMS
Working with thread to recreate and reimagine digital imagery, Bethan explores the influence and pressures of social media in contemporary life. Taught to sew at the age of six, she draws on a lifelong connection to textiles to bring screen-based visuals into the physical world—transforming the digital through a slow, tactile process.
Cathays Gallery is a contemporary art showroom located in heart of Cardiff at 177 Malefant St, Cathays.
Admission: Free
Open daily: 09:30am – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 1pm
Cathays Gallery & Showroom
177 Malefant St, Cardiff
