Currently based in Fredricksburg, VA, Erick Murray was born in Brooklyn, NY. As a NAVY retiree and the son of an ARMY retiree, he's been afforded the opportunity to travel the world - New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Germany, Italy and finally Virginia. As the child of both an educator and a Korean and Vietnam War veteran he developed a fascination with history, in general and military history, in particular. After graduating from Fort Campbell High School at Ft. Campbell, KY and briefly majoring in commercial art, he joined the U.S. Navy and began a 20+ year career as an Illustrator Draftsman. 

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Before completing his career on the U.S.S. Enterprise, Murray was called upon to complete special projects for the military.  In 1997 when the NAVY's oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution sailed under her own power for the first time in over 100 years it was Erick Murray who was commissioned to capture the event on canvas in the paining, "Queen of the Fleet," now part of the NAVY Art Collection.  When renowned oceanographer, Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the USS Yorktown in 1998, Murray was the NAVY artist assigned to document the NAVY's involvement in the search. 

 

As a civilian, Murray has completed projects for esteemed organizations such as The Triple Nickel Organization and The Tuskegee Airmen Organization.  He's had the honor of designing Tuskegee Airmen National Convention logos and posters.  Due to his ongoing relationship with the organization, he's had the honor of sitting beside Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and other surviving Airmen as they signed their names in gold on National Convention  posters designed by Murray. 

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In addition to having many works - painting and photographs - included in the U.S. Navy Art Collection,  He is a strong portrait artist, as proficient with the pencil as with the brush.  His fascination with military and aviation history has lead him to create images in homage of  Henry Johnson, Bessie Coleman and others. Erick's work has appeared across the country in galleries and exhibitions as well as within the pages of World War I and World War II magazines.  His teenage fascination with fantasy art was revived upon his military retirement, and relocation to Norfolk, VA - a city that boasts the mermaid as its mascot. How could a sailor resist?  He is currently compiling a collection of mermaid images for inclusion in a forthcoming coffee table book.   

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