Of Māori descent (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī),[1] his life's work included painting, sculpture, journalism, broadcasting, directing, acting, set design, theatre, poetry, and whaikōrero.

[5] In this role, he created Te Puna Wai Kōrero, 'a weekly current affairs programme in English on northern Māori issues'.

Muru along with Aroaro Hond, Robert Puwhare, Mona Papali'l and Ernie Leoard were involved.

[11] In the 1980s Muru's work with recycled timber has been described as a 'leitmotif' or recurrent theme amongst several Māori artists including Ralph Hotere, Para Matchitt and Bruce Stewart by art critic Rangihiroa Panaho.

[4] The New Zealand Portrait Gallery held a retrospective exhibition entitled Selwyn Muru: A Life's Work for three months starting in November 2022.