Brothers Shelby and Sandy Murphy have built a distinctive artistic practice rooted in memory, nostalgia, and the visual language of popular culture. Inspired by the cartoons, comic book heroes, athletes, and animated worlds that shaped their childhood, the duo transforms familiar icons into bold contemporary compositions defined by vibrant color, crisp outlines, and playful storytelling.Their work blends elements of Minimalism, Surrealism, and classic animation, creating images that feel instantly recognizable while inviting viewers to reconnect with the joy and imagination of childhood. Beneath their clean aesthetic lies a simple intention: to create work that sparks happiness, curiosity, and shared memories.Since beginning their collaboration in 2013, Shelby and Sandy have developed an international following, exhibiting their work globally and collaborating with brands across fashion, furniture, and design. Their paintings have found homes in notable private collections, but their practice remains grounded in the universal experience of remembering the stories and characters that first shaped our imaginations.
During their residency at Hotel El Ganzo, Shelby and Sandy Murphy translated their playful visual universe into works inspired by Baja California Sur and the community that surrounds the hotel. While their imagery continues to draw from beloved animated characters, each piece created during the residency found new meaning through its dialogue with local culture and everyday life.One of the residency's most recognizable works, Tom & Jerry Fishing, reimagines the iconic cartoon duo through a scene inspired by the fishermen of La Playita, weaving together childhood nostalgia and the traditions of the neighboring community with the brothers' unmistakable visual language.The residency also produced Woman Applying Sunblock, a vibrant work created on-site at El Ganzo that has become part of the hotel's collection. Beyond its playful composition, the painting carries a story of its own: it later became the backdrop for one of the artists' marriage proposal, a reminder that the artworks created at El Ganzo often continue their lives through the memories and milestones they become part of.Like many residencies at El Ganzo, Shelby and Sandy's time here celebrated the meeting of place, imagination, and human connection—where familiar characters found a new home by the Sea of Cortez.
My first experience with El Ganzo was very very specialbecause it was happening at a very special time in my life.We had been on the fifth year anniversary cover of amagazine called Hotbook. The folks from El Ganzo.reached out to us because the magazine was at their hoteland they asked if we could come and be an artist inresidence. At the same time we got that email, I wasgetting real close to wanting to propose to my long timegirl friend. So I told my brother, we are gonna take thisjob and I am gonna propose on this trip. It was reallyreally really really special.So we wanted the painting to pay homage to the hoteland to the current situation of why we were going thereto do it. If you see the painting that we did, it is a womansunbathing on the beach... we grew up going to the beachand obviously El Ganzo sits on the beach, thefisherman's wharf... so that's why we had the beach scenein it. And the lady in it has a big diamond engagementring on her finger and that was to allude to what wasgoing to happen in the coming days.
We have done work for hotels but we have never stayedat the hotel and painted on-site. That was our first timedoing that.
It was really interesting! So I will compare it to this timetoo, this time we are going to a painting directly on thewall of one of the areas of the hotel. But the first time wewent, Sandy & I actually built a canvas at the hotel. Wehad El Ganzo get the wood for us and we broughteverything else. I brought a hand saw, I brought my drills,all on the plane, I brought all of them over. .So the hotel gave us a conference room and that was ourstudio for a week. We built the canvas, we stretched thecanvas and then we painted it all. So it was quite theexperience. Because usually I have all my tools here inL.A. and I have a workshop to build everything. Doing itonsite there was, I mean, we were working in paradise, itwas crazy and it was really fun.
Physically, it did. Let me think if it did emotionally.But physically, the paints that we use and the finishesthat we use… the climate is different from here in L.A.because it was way more humid it took way longer for thepaints to dry than we are used to. So the job took us a lotlonger than it typically does. Which was nice too, sincethere was more waiting time.Usually our paints dry, we can time it really really well, wecan finish one section and move to the next section, backand forth and time the dry times. But at El Ganzobecause of the humidity in the air, it took us way longerfor the paints to dry so we will have to take breaks inbetween. That made it really nice because you are inparadise.
It is extremely positive. You feel really well taken care of.It is going to be different for everyone. For us, it wasreally nice to have the change.Being an artist it is always enjoyable to experiment andtest new ideas. I have never tested a new location before.It is something that never even would have been on myradar to try. Testing new materials to paint on, testingnew paints, trying new techniques - those all the thingsthat we do constantly. But exploring working in a newlocation was awesome. And very different andunexpected.
Experiment and also take my time maybe. Because it ison-location and it is a complete mix of work andpleasure, it is very important to step away from the workand relax which I don't think I am… Sandy and I are notnaturally good at that. When we work, we shuteverything else off and stay completely focused 100% onthe work until it is completed. So it is an interestingchange of style.If we were doing that at El Ganzo, we will be wasting theopportunity to relax and enjoy a cocktail by the pool anda meal watching the sunset, which I probably miss all thetime at home working. So taking advantage of this, itreally puts you in a different state of mind. Stepping awayfrom the normal daily routine and doing it in a differentway. Again I say, it was a completely positive experience. Iloved it! And it is why we are coming back to do it again.And it why after this time we are gonna do it again.
Many of the artworks, murals, and interventions that have shaped the hotel over the years were never intended to exist forever. As artists arrive, spaces evolve, and new conversations emerge, certain works transform, disappear, or make room for new interventions.This constant evolution is central to El Ganzo’s identity. The hotel experienced today is not the same one that existed six months ago, nor the one that will exist six months from now. Through change, the space remains alive, continuously shaped by the artists, musicians, and communities that pass through it.The works featured in this archive are no longer physically on view, but they remain an essential part of El Ganzo’s artistic legacy and ongoing cultural history.
