William M Duffy

Manipulating natural materials into objects that appeal to me and hopefully to others, is why I'm a sculptor. My desire to create is so inherent, I can't comfortably do anything else. I often reflect back on the day when I was nine years old playing in my front yard, when I was overcome with a strong urge to pick up an odd shaped rock. As soon as I did, I got a strange overwhelming feeling that surely must have been God telling me that stone would be my destiny. I've worked with wood, bronze, steel and paper, but stone is still my first love. Rounded, angular, smooth and textured surfaces are the contrasts I incorporate into a piece, to invite the viewer to touch and think about my sculptures. My admiration of African, Egyptian, Oceanic, Eskimo, and other tribal sculptures, influence my work immensely. I try to blend all of the different styles into one universal style that is appealing to all people. My subject matter is also universal with the intent of portraying the human bond that exists between us all.

B.F.A. in Painting - Louisville School of Art

Self-taught Stone Sculptor

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
Frequent showings in the region since 1976. Highlights include:
1988 - J.B. Speed Museum - one man show
1990 - Atlanta Life Insurance Co. National Art Competition - 2nd place purchase award
1993 - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - one man show
1994 - Kentucky Art & Craft Foundation Gallery - Kentucky Stone Sculptors
2002 – Nazareth College Arts Gallery – group show
2002 - National Black Development Corporation
2009 - African American Art Exhibition at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville
2009 – Carnegie Arts Center (New Albany, IN) – one man show
2010 – African American Art Exhibition at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville
2010 – Water Tower Regional – Louisville Visual Art Association
2010 – Muhammad Ali Center- group show – curator
2011 – IdeaFestival – one man show
2012 – Louisville Visual Art Association -“Commissioned to Create: Works by Artists who Created the Governor’s Awards (1993-2011)”
2013 – Southern Indiana Arts Council “Bright Lights” Exhibit
2014 – The Bob Lockhart Student Alumni Exhibition, Bobzilla: The Legacy of Lockhart Bob’s best student’s work, chosen personally by him.
2017 – Kentucky Center for African American Heritage – one man show
2018 – 1619 Flux Gallery Exhibit “It’s...