butch’s sculpture practice came late in life as he searched for a meaningful form of expression and creativity. He was mentored by his long term friendship with Michel Beaudry and Bonnie Baxter giving him hints, encouraging him without dogma. Murphy’s life long partner, Corva, with her foundation in Art History, provided an academic data base. butch continues benefiting by the support of the members of Oval Table, an artist salon, and other collegial artists. Along with Corva, he formed and produces two successful organizations, The Oval Table, 2017, and the Oak Hall Art Soirées, 2016. Early on he exhibited in local galleries in Columbia, Missouri, with a solo show of 7 sculptures at the Ashby Hodge Gallery of American Art. With Murphy’s networking, he developed several ongoing venues for public display of his works in Mid Missouri, Kansas Flint Hills, the Kansas City metro area, South Carolina and Oklahoma. Although he has focused on horses for models, he explores other forms of pure abstraction. After opening his studio in 2011, he has completed more than 50 abstract horse sculptures and in 2021 he was advanced to a higher level of acknowledgement when one of his sculptures standing across the street from the Kemper Museum of Modern Art in Kansas City, was stolen and with the exception of its tail it was never recovered.