West Philly designer takes up screen-printing, turning everyday t-shirts into billboards of his art

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- When it came time for West Philadelphia artist Marc Murphy to choose the name of his printing business, he chose Bombardment Co.

He says it's a reference from an episode of "The Simpsons."

Pop culture is just one example of many of the themes he uses to design in his screen-printing business.

"If I could put into a bag everything that it takes to be a designer, there wouldn't be a bag big enough," he says.

Murphy uses a heat transfer machine and layers upon layers of colors and paint pass and pull to transform his art into walkable canvasses.

He started designing shirts 15 years ago and would be approached when wearing them outside.

"I went to the store with the shirt on and some guy said, 'Where did you get that from? I said, I made it. He said, let me screen-print it for you," says Murphy.

After getting introduced to the fine art and science of screen-printing, he immediately took to the artform. He eventually acquired a heat press machine from his Aunt and the rest is history.

Working in his studio on American Street, he creates and designs shirts with themes of pop culture, history, inspiration from museums and whatever else pops in his head.

"It's one of those things where I get to challenge my eye. Challenge myself at it," he says.

The popular artist-run South Street Art Mart discovered him, and they've been proudly selling his designs ever since.

The owners say he's a big hit.

"I feel like everything can be so unpersonal," says co-owner Nicole Krecicki. "So, it's really nice to be able to say this shirt represents this store. Marc made it."

For more on Marc Murphy's designs, you can check him out on Instagram.

South Street Art Mart
530 S. 4th Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19147