Painter ✧ Toronto, Canada
C.M. Duffy
C.M. Duffy, a Toronto-based visual artist, weaves the real with the surreal, crafting a world where nature’s wonders are reimagined with a touch of whimsy and wit. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City with a BFA, Duffy has made a significant mark on the art scene. In 2021, he collaborated with the Department of Canadian Heritage, showcasing a large installation in both Ottawa's Confederation Park and Frankfurt, Germany, to honor Canada's Guest of Honour status at the Frankfurt International Book Fair.
Duffy's current body of work blossoms from daydreams, drawing inspiration from Mother Nature’s vast and varied landscapes. His creations delve into the overlooked, liminal spaces where reality bends into illusion, and allusion emerges in playful, unexpected ways. Themes of camouflage, illusion, and survival thread through his pieces, challenging viewers to reconsider their perceptions and beliefs. With a playful sense of trickery and visual wit, Duffy’s art invites us to embrace the idea that, amidst our relentless pursuit of objective truth, magic still exists, waiting to be discovered in the world around us.
Moutonière Collections
✧ F/W 2024: Silk Art Scarves
Lilac Lamb
My art springs from the buds of daydreams rooted in a deep appreciation for nature. Usually, these inspirations bloom during hikes or brief walks, but in the spring of 2024, a broken foot confined me indoors. Limited to the view from my window, I was lucky to have a serviceberry tree with billowing white blooms across the street, sparking my creativity. This sight led me to explore other white blossoms that mimic sheep's wool. Discovering the Madame Lemoine lilac variety, I knew it was the perfect muse for my piece, Lilac Lamb, created for Moutonière. This work celebrates the playful vitality of spring through its bright colors and wondrous whimsy, offering a splash of exuberance for any time of year.
— C.M. Duffy
More about C.M. Duffy
Exhibitions
Around the 'net
Reddit, Fantasy/surrealism/nature paintings by C.M. Duffy
Visual Flood, Explore the depths of perception with C.M. Duffy’s fantastical hybrid creature art