Rita Duffy was born in Belfast. She studied Art & Design, later receiving a master’s in Fine Art at the University of Ulster. Her subject matter is typically autobiographical relating to Irish identity and politics, depicted through a style of surrealism and magic realism.
The lighthouse may initially seem simplistic as a subject, but it connects to a variety of themes explored across Duffy’s oeuvre. St John’s Lighthouse in County Down has been depicted multiple times by Duffy, with one oil painting purchased by the Arts Committee. In 2004, she began the Thaw project, inspired by the Titanic. This post-conflict project explored Belfast’s relationship with the Iceberg and aimed to connect local experiences with the universal climate crisis. Similarly, her public installation, Soften the Border (2017), is another instance exploring borders, migration and movement by sea. In the context of her work, the lighthouse acts as a positive symbol of navigation, related to themes of climate change and migration.
In 2018, Duffy was recognised for her contribution to visual arts in Ireland and elected to Aosdana. Her work is held in public collections such as the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Ulster Museum, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Imperial War Museum, The Drawing Museum, New York along with numerous private collections.
The lighthouse may initially seem simplistic as a subject, but it connects to a variety of themes explored across Duffy’s oeuvre. St John’s Lighthouse in County Down has been depicted multiple times by Duffy, with one oil painting purchased by the Arts Committee. In 2004, she began the Thaw project, inspired by the Titanic. This post-conflict project explored Belfast’s relationship with the Iceberg and aimed to connect local experiences with the universal climate crisis. Similarly, her public installation, Soften the Border (2017), is another instance exploring borders, migration and movement by sea. In the context of her work, the lighthouse acts as a positive symbol of navigation, related to themes of climate change and migration.
In 2018, Duffy was recognised for her contribution to visual arts in Ireland and elected to Aosdana. Her work is held in public collections such as the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Ulster Museum, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Imperial War Museum, The Drawing Museum, New York along with numerous private collections.
