Artist Lois Duffy and her Silver Clipper / Gila Theatre Painting.
Article by artist Victoria Chick, M.F.A, and Big Blend Radio’s “World of Art” Podcast Episode. Listen to the Podcast:
I first met Lois Duffy during a visit to Silver City in 2005. At the time, she was already one of the visionaries behind the establishment of the Silver City Arts District, later recognized in John Villani’s 100 Best Art Towns in America.
Born in New York, Lois studied art at Pratt Institute. After graduating, she moved to Massachusetts, where she built her painting career while raising a family. Before making a bold move west to New Mexico—where she now resides—Lois spent 12 years in Florida, exhibiting her large-scale paintings in galleries throughout the state. One of her works was acquired by the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, a prestigious state museum founded in 1927.
Lois Duffy’s Gallery in Downtown Silver City (2012). Photo: Lisa D. Smith
In Silver City, Lois combined her downtown gallery with her working studio. Visitors were immediately struck by the scale of her work—many pieces spanning entire walls—and by her compelling portraits of creative luminaries. She also painted scenes from everyday life, transforming ordinary subjects into something unexpected and engaging.
Amigas Eternas painting by Lois Duffy
Her work often blends realism with elements of surreal humor, using imagination and metaphor to encourage viewers to see familiar subjects in new ways. While her subject matter varies, her distinctive style remains consistent, and she primarily works in acrylics on large canvas.
In recent years, Lois has expanded her work into innovative formats she calls “cube paintings.” These pieces use wooden box structures—joined seamlessly and projecting at varying angles—to create a three-dimensional surface. On these forms, she paints portraits and scenes that resolve visually from multiple perspectives, inviting viewers to move around the piece and experience it from different angles.
Although Lois has since sold her gallery, she continues to work diligently in her studio, producing the bold and imaginative paintings for which she is known.
John Lennon “3D Cube” acrylic painting by Lois Duffy
Her work is held in numerous private and public collections. One of her most recognized pieces, Buffalo Bar, which captures an iconic biker gathering spot in Silver City, is part of the New Mexico State Capitol Art Collection in Santa Fe. Another of her works was acquired by Western New Mexico University. The Southwest Regional Museum of Art has also received one of her cube paintings (John Lennon portrait) for its permanent collection.
Lois Duffy’s legacy is reflected not only in her artwork, but also in her lasting impact on the creative identity of Silver City—helping shape it into the vibrant arts destination it is today.
LINKS & RESOURCES
https://www.loisduffy.com/
https://visitsilvercity.org/
Victoria Chick is the founder of the Cow Trail Art Studio in southwest New Mexico. She received a B.A. in Art from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and awarded an M.F.A. in Painting from Kent State University in Ohio. Visit her website at www.ArtistVictoriaChick.com and learn more about the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center.