Gwen Murphy: Foot Fetish Series

American artist Gwen Murphy developed her fascination for shoes at early age. She sees a shoe as a kind of fetish, because it has a presence, and the power to protect and transport us.

" Since I was a very young child I have looked at shoes and found them looking back at me, each pair with its particular personality and facial expression. Mouths yawning open, they sometimes look sleepy, grouchy, or fierce."
~~ Gwen Murphy


Murphy's sculpture series began in 2005. Since then, she has made close to 60 pairs of shoe sculptures, using only shoes that were second-hand, cast-offs, or found on roadside.

A few of the Foot Fetishes have been made entirely of clay, others of repurposed hardwood forms beautifully carved and found in Massachusetts, which was once home to a booming shoe industry.

Foot Fetish Series

Carnival Shoes © Gwen Murphy

Frog Prince © Gwen Murphy

Goal Oriented © Gwen Murphy

Magenta Flats © Gwen Murphy

Manifest Destiny © Gwen Murphy

Nudes © Gwen Murphy

Smashed © Gwen Murphy

Sue Red Beaded Slippers © Gwen Murphy

Vines Front Side © Gwen Murphy

Images courtesy of the artist