Mary Duffy

by Sarah Judson July 31, 2012

We were amazed and inspired recently when we received an order and a phone call from Mary Duffy, an Irish plein air painter who was born without arms. She doesn't let that stop her, she uses her toes to hold the brush. She is, even as we speak, participating in the fifth annual Art in the Open, the international plein air festival based in the historic harbour town of Wexford, Ireland. It continues through next Tuesday, August 7th.

In addition to being an artist, she has worked as a teacher, radio producer, researcher, actor and documentary-maker. She has also been an activist for civil rights and has published prose and poetry.

"I am someone who relishes challenge, and this is just as well, because my life is indeed challenging. I was born without arms in 1961 and this makes my days demanding, stimulating and complex. I like it like this.

I didn’t always - because it has never been easy. All the same, I recognize that I have been really lucky.... Against the odds, I have had the rare privilege to grow up and be loved with my family and friends, in my community."
Share: