Artist Bio

Allyson McDuffie received a BFA (Studio Arts) and MFA (Printmaking) from Ohio University, Athens. She has lived in Boulder, CO since 1992 and has worked primarily in the mediums of printmaking, drawing, painting, mixed media, and photography, with a more recent exploration into digital drawing and sculpture.

Artist Statement

As an artist, I strive to explore the intersections between memory, queer identity, societal norms, and resilience in my work. I often use humor and satire to subvert the seriousness of these topics. Throughout my life, my images have attempted to speak to the way personal experiences, and memory recall of those experiences that can morph over time, shape our understanding of place and the world around us. My most successful pieces are simplified forms that hint at a deeper emotional resonance. They are reluctantly optimistic; simultaneously an exploration of hardships and a celebration of the beauty in our contradictory society. They are comical and poignant. 

Tomboys, chickens, miniature donkeys, pigs, cardinals (the Ohio state bird and my grandmother’s favorite), rattan and jelly lawn furniture (where a childhood friend and I spent endless summer hours planning our escape from boredom, and Springfield), bird nests, Jiffy Pop, a coveted bowling trophy, and old coin-operated mechanical horse rides are just a few of the elements that make appearances in my work. These objects help to evoke/embellish the retelling of childhood experiences, friend and familial relationships, and turn societal shame into a celebration of queer/gender identity and expression. Some also touch on the themes of poverty and consumerism, exploring the ways in which our society’s obsession with material possessions can both connect and isolate us.