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DUFFY, Helen
- Born
- Zürich, Switzerland, 1923
- Died
- Toronto, Ontario, 2008
- Biography synopsis
- Helen Duffy (nee Stahel) immigrated to Canada in 1948. In addition to her studies in Switzerland, Geneva and London, she also studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts (Quebec City) under Jean-Paul Lemieux. Before turning to her textile work, she was an illustrator and writer. In the 60s she began working with strips of colourful remnants of cloth to produce fabric collages that were hung like banners, textile arranged in geometric forms. She moved with her family where she was a press attache at Canada House in London in 1966. She exhibited in the Commonwealth Institute (London) in 1967 for Canada's centenary and was subsequently invited to the Spanish Arts Council and Scottish Arts Council to attend seminars and show her work. In 1977 she was a consultant at the Art Gallery of Ontario where she worked with Claire Watson for AGO exhibition Textiles into 3D. was an active contributor to the creative communities of Toronto and Montreal, as well as London, England. . BC Craft Council - the Burnaby Art Gallery held an exhibition titled “Banners” which highlighted the applique and stitchery work of Swiss artist Helen Duffy.
- Media used
- Drawing
- Illustration
- Textiles
- Watercolour
- Education
- Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Quebec (under Jean-Paul Rioelle)
- Chelsea School of Art
- File & Archive locations
- Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
- Edmonton Art Gallery, AB - Library
- Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, QC - Media Centre
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
- National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
- University of British Columbia - Fine Arts Library
- Vancouver Art Gallery, BC - Library
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Writings about- Artists with their Work. Toronto, Ontario: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1983
- "Used in place of Paint: Fabric: Glowing Art Form." The Calgary Herald 27 April 1966: 40
- "Woman paints with Fabric in New Art Form." The Montreal Gazette 27 April 1966: 13
- Caldwell Dorothy et al. Directions: From Historical Sources Toronto, Ontario: Museum for Textiles, 1989
- Duffy Helen and Commonwealth Institute. Helen Duffy: Banners and Constructed Hangings London, England: Commonwealth Institute, 1970
- Kritzwiser, Kay. "Artists with Needle, Thread, Helen Duffy, Chiel Fernhout, Norman Laliberte." The Globe and Mail 21 Apr. 1966: W1
- Kritzwiser, Kay. "Canadian Works in London Exhibit." The Globe and Mail 23 Oct. 1970: 13
- Kritzwiser, Kay. "Textiles Become Dramatic Sculptures." Globe and Mail 27 Oct. 1973: 30
Writings by- Duffy Helen et al. The Brave New World of Fritz Brandtner/Le Meilleur Des Mondes De Fritz Brandtner. Kingston, Ontario: Agnes Etherington Art Centre Queen's University 1982., 1982
- Duffy, Helen. "Helen Gregor, ou l'esthétique de l'harmonie." Vie des arts 25.101 (Winter 1980-81): 30-32
- Duffy, Helen and Rousseau-Vermette, Mariette. Canada Mikrokosma : An Exhibition of Contemporary Canadian Tapestries by Twenty-two Canadian Artists = Exposition de tapisseries contemporaines de vingt-deux artistes canadiens Kingston, Ontario: Agnes Etherington Art Centre,, 1982
- Helen Duffy et al.. Here and There: Canadian Fibre Art. Cambridge, Not.: The Gallery and Library, 1986
