Mannie Murphy’s Like a Lighthouse

Mannie Murphy believes that queer friendships, especially friendships between queer artists, are unique. “Even now, when I create work in isolation, I can hear the voices of old friends and feel their influence,” says Murphy. The Portland, Oregon–based comics artist and illustrator is the author of the graphic novel I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (2021). For this month’s installment of Drawn to MoMA, which celebrates Pride Month, they created a personal story that reflects on the friendship between artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. “I didn’t know how close they were or how much they influenced each other until I started working on this story,” says Murphy.

Comics artist and illustrator Mannie Murphy is the author of I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, Symbology, Gay Genius, and I Still Live. They live in their hometown of Portland, Oregon.

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