Michael Murphy was born and raised in Tampa and graduated from Plant High School. His passion for the arts started at only 14 when both his brother and cousin were getting their BFA in photography at USF. Michael would skip school to hang out in the Art Department with them.

“There was a lot going on in the Art Department in the early ‘70’s. They had just launched Graphic Studio, famous artists were coming through. It was exciting.” Michael found himself spending much of his time there.

It is ironic how errors of judgement, even as children (skipping school, etc.) could lead us toward our life’s passion and lifelong career goals.

As a freshman at Plant High School, Michael took a part-time job at a gallery in South Tampa after school. When the framer quit, he was offered the job where he taught himself what he needed to know and began framing.

“At 24, I was working for a gallery whose owner was going out of town for several months and had a job for a doctor’s office in Bradenton. I needed the money and asked if I could do the job in her place. She said yes.” Michael found a place to work on the project where he could use their materials and pay them; however, the owner would not let him work inside, so he set up an area in the parking lot and went to work. “That was my first solo commercial framing job. Completely stressful, but in the end, I got through it and everyone was happy with the final product.”

From there, Michael realized he was good enough to go on his own. “I rented a friend’s garage on Davis Islands and started my framing business.” Word spread quickly and his framing business started to blossom.

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"Today, Michael Murphy Gallery stands as one of Tampa's most iconic art destinations — and the best is yet to come. After over 40 years of calling South Tampa home, Michael Murphy did what great artists and great entrepreneurs do: he followed his instincts. Driving through the West Riverfront, he immediately recognized what others are just beginning to discover — this is Tampa's most exciting emerging neighborhood, buzzing with new energy, new investment, and a creative spirit that felt like exactly the right home for what Michael Murphy Gallery has always been about. So he made the move. They say all roads lead to Rome — in our case, Rome Avenue and Cherry Street. Find us at 1704 West Cherry Street, just off Rome Avenue, where creativity, culture, and community are converging in ways that remind us why we fell in love with this city in the first place. After nearly 50 years in the art industry, Michael Murphy Gallery has mastered framing and fine art at the highest level — creating absolutely beautiful, customized masterpieces built to last a lifetime."