Southwest Regional Museum of Art was recently gifted “Imagine, John Lennon” a painting by Lois Duffy completed early in the development of her unique 3-D Cube style.  “Imagine, John Lennon” is the gift of Silver City resident, Robert Luria to SWRMA, and is now part of the Museum’s Permanent Collection.  The Museum is grateful for Mr. Luria’s gift that contributes to the contemporary division of its Permanent Collection.

Lois Duffy settled in Silver City close to 20 years ago, having had a successful art career in Florida, Massachusetts, and along the Atlantic coast.  Duffy was immediately appreciated here in New Mexico for her talent, wit, energy, and involvement in making Silver City an art destination. Her long list of exhibitions and recognition by jurors includes her work in the collections of the Ringling Museum of Art in Florida, the  Berkshire Museum in Massachusetts, and the Capitol Art Collection in Santa Fe, NM.

The SWRMA Permanent Collection is limited to art created by respected artists in America. So far, the Collection spans art being done in the present day back to the middle of the 19th century and includes work by Native Americans, immigrant art pioneers, and other artists born in the United States.  The current value of the Permanent Collection is approximately a half-million dollars and is growing with gifted art each month. The artists included are also represented by works in major art museums across the country. The collection expresses the land, social activity, imagination, interests, social issues, work, fantasy, and beliefs of Americans in a variety of media. Sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, original etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, and more will be exhibited when the Museum opens.

The Southwest Regional Museum of Art is so named because the desire of the Board is to provide the cultural benefit of a fine art museum to the Southwest counties of New Mexico with exhibitions and programs for all ages. It will include art from every part of America. The SWRMA depends on gifts of fine art to build its collection.

The Permanent Collection is currently stored while the Museum’s Board of Directors readies a 2024 Capital Campaign to raise funds to MAKE THE MUSEUM. Our goal is $1.045,000 to open a fine art museum in which Southwest New Mexico residents can take pride and within which cultural enrichment, education, creativity and enjoyment will be fostered through curated exhibitions and programs.

Southwest Regional Museum of Art, including its creative Art Center component, is a New Mexico non-profit corporation, designated a 501(c)(3) educational charity by the IRS, and registered with the NM Attorney General’s Office for fundraising.

To learn more or to volunteer email: victoriachick@victoriachick.com