Nathan Durfee has garnered notoriety for his captivating, pop-surrealist narratives and intriguing use of color. Currently based in Charleston, South Carolina, Durfee has been heralded as the Best Local Visual Artist by Charleston City Paper for four years (2010-2013) and has done illustration work for book and magazine publications across the country. Each of Durfee’s solo gallery exhibitions has also been met with critical acclaim and sold out almost immediately. Durfee has also recently been profiled in American Art Collector, Charleston Art and Charleston Scene magazines.
A native of Vermont, Durfee pursued a career in illustration after graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2005, contributing to various publications across the Southeast, in addition to designing album art and commercial promotional materials. Durfee then began to explore his love of painting, creating fanciful contemporary narratives that feature an eclectic array of characters in mesmerizing and often contrasting color palettes. He made a seamless transition from illustrator to full-time painter in 2009.
Each of Durfee’s paintings begins with an enormous amount of push and pull from the artist, in which ideas are refined and adjusted, until a rough idea starts to form. He then begins rendering the elements of the painting while maintaining a wandering state of mind. Many of his whimsical characters are faced with tough, yet universal decisions, conveying a sense of security in an unsure world to the viewer. He hopes to expand on these ideas and tell larger stories in his future work.
Durfee continues to push himself to explore new techniques and color combinations, in addition to collaborating on works with other painters including Robert Lange, Megan Aline and Charles Williams. Collaboration not only lends to each artist’s strengths, but also creates a conversation between two styles that a lone artist would not be able to demonstrate. Durfee’s constant evolution as an artist has led to a body of work that is ever growing and continues to both thrill and fascinate its viewers.
Solo shows
April, 2015, ‘Blended Tides’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
December, 2014 ‘Peering Under Hints of Wonder’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
August, 2014 ‘Glimmer Steady Inside the Stone’ Lemieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
October, 2013, ‘Gentle Lines, Crossed by Veil and VineRobert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
June, 2013, ‘The Small Sound of Bartholomeux’ City Gallery, Charleston, SC
November, 2012 ‘The Symphony Inside Her’ Lemieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
December, 2012, ‘Humming Velvet’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
June, 2012 ‘Tangled Dreams of Knots and Leaves’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
November, 2011 ‘Their Masquerade of Feather and Thread’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
February, 2011 ‘Sights Behind Closed Eyes’ Lemieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
February, 2011 ‘Whisper Brightly’ Collaborative show with Megan AlineRobert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
November, 2010 ‘The Soft Embrace of a Porcelain Night’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
December, 2009 ‘Different Strokes’ Collaborative show with Robert LangeRobert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
October, 2009 ‘Thoughts Between the Sky and Sea’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
June, 2009, ‘Art and Jazz’ Official Artist of the Picollo Spoletto Jazz SeriesCharleston, SC
February, 2009 ‘Featured Artist’ ShopSCAD, Savannah, GA
November, 2008: ‘Where Petals and Rain Fall’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
June, 2008: ‘Shows before Shows’ Footlight Theater Gallery, Charleston, SCPart of Piccollo Spoletto Festival
May, 2008: ‘Charleston Spoletto Jazz Festival Series’ Mistral upstairs performance hall, Charleston SCPart of Piccollo Spoletto Festival
November, 2007: ‘A Celebration of Stems and Clouds’ Modernisme Gallery, Charleston, SC
October, 2006: ‘Missing Pages’ Gallery @ Theater 99, Charleston, SC
Group shows
November 2015, 'Silver vs Gold' Vendue art Hotel Gallery, Charlesotn, SC
June 2015, 'Ouroboros' Lemieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
November 2014, ‘I spy a pattern’ Vendue Art Hotel Gallery, Charleston, SC
June 2014 ‘Water water everywhere’ Lemieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
April 2014 ‘Braving the Elements’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
April 2014 ‘Jailbreak’ Old City Jail, Charleston, SC
April 2014 ‘Art FieldsLake City, SC
March, 2013 ‘Evolution’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
February, 2012 ‘Night of the Oscars’ Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
June, 2011 ‘The Tools we Choose’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
April, 2012 ‘Kulture Klash IV’ Noisette Gallery, Charleston, SC
February, 2011 ‘Flirting With Art’ Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC
June, 2010 ‘Growing Pains’ Lemieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
February, 2010 ‘Black vs White’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
April, 2009 ‘Earth Show’ Noisette Gallery w/ Art Magazine, Charleston SC
April, 2009 ‘Yellow vs. Blue’ Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC
March, 2009 ‘Taste’ Savannah Slaughter House, Savannah, GA
March, 2009 ‘reBlume’ Pantheon, Charleston, SC
December, 2008: ‘4×4’ Eye Level Art, Charleston, SC
December, 2008: ‘Small Works Show’ Red Gallery, Savannah, GA
December, 2008: ‘Artists of the Carolinas’ Blue Diamond Gallery, Greensboro, NC
November, 2008: ‘Pixels and Pages’ Exhibit One Gallery, Stillwater, OK
November, 2008 ‘New Works’ Artizen Gallery, Dallas, TX
November, 2008: ‘Kulture Klash III’ Storehouse Row, Charleston, SC
October, 2008: ‘Blume’ Pantheon, Charleston, SC
June, 2008: ‘Lens and Canvas’ Duo Show with photographer ZsoltTrusted Palette, Charleston, SC
March, 2008: ‘Ratio 1×3’ Robert Lagne Studios, Charleston, SC
May, 2007: ‘Exquisite Corpse’ Redux Studios, Charleston, SC
December, 2006: ‘The Little Things’ Modernisme Gallery, Charleston, SC
October, 2006: ‘Meet the Artists’ Modernisme Gallery, Charleston, SC
2006-2007: Associazione Cultureal Teatrio, illustrated book project showTeatrio Culture Association, Italy
Awards & Honors
2014: Favorite Visual Artist, Charleston Art Magazine
2013: Poster Award for Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston, SC
2008-2012: Official painter for the Jazz Artists of Charleston
2010-2013: Awarded ‘Best Local Visual Artist; Charleston City Paper, Charleston, SC
2009: Winner of the Charleston Portrait SlamEye Level Art, Charleston, SC
2005: Teatrio Cultureal Association Book Project Award, Teatrio, Italy