Duke Windsor

Southern California Urbanscapes


Born in 1960 in Texarkana, Texas, Duke Windsor served in the United States Marine Corps as an artillery field radio operator, combat illustrator, and ceremonial color guard and as Marine Drill Instructor.  After leaving the Marines, he studied classical voice at San Diego State University, later performing with the San Diego Opera Chorus, studied fashion design at Mesa Community College and continued to develop his art.  Duke has also worked as a technical and graphic illustrator, architectural and mechanical draftsman, editorial cartoonist, actor, and a former semi-pro bull rider and is a former martial arts instructor.  Duke is the holder of a Fourth Dan Black Belt in Shao-lin Kempo and is currently beginning study Wasshin Ryu Karate.

Duke, better known for his representational urban scenes of alleys and sidewalks, also produces plein air landscapes, military historical works, and figurative studies.  His most recent work explores the abstract expressionist genre, capturing a snapshot of the natural abstracts in our man-made surroundings, creating works on canvas.  He also continues to produce other works in a variety of media including acrylic, watercolors, oils and linocut prints on paper.

    Duke’s paintings have been exhibited at numerous juried exhibitions in San Diego and Southern California, and are held in many private collections throughout the U.S. and in the U.K. His work has been exhibited at Sue Greenwood Fine Art in Laguna Beach, CA, Oceanside Museum of Art, Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad and at the San Diego Art Institute, and numerous other group shows and corporate venues in the San Diego area.

     Duke is an award winning artist and 2007 he was a Featured Artist at San Diego’s Mission Federal Art Walk.  In 2008 is work won many awards at the San Diego County Fair and at the California State Fair.  Duke won a juror's award at the 2009 Biennial at Cannon Art Gallery.

     Duke is also a published cartoon artist. He has taught drawing and cartooning at the San Diego Museum of Art School and at the San Diego Art Department. He continues to write and perform as a singer/songwriter in his spare time.  In addition to painting, Duke’s professional career is museum exhibit design and management. He has worked as Exhibit Technician for the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Museum of Man and Mingei International Museum. 

      In 2006, Duke became Traveling Exhibits Designer for the San Diego Museum of Natural History where he designed the 2007 blockbuster Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition. Later that year, Duke assumed the position of Director of Exhibits and Lead Exhibit Designer for the high successful, USS Midway Museum, in the downtown San Diego harbor.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2001-Present: 

2009 
Bread & Cie, Hillcrest CA 

2008 
Ray @ Night, North Park, San Diego CA 

2007 
Solo Exhibition, San Diego Art Department, San Diego CA 
Bard Hall Gallery, San Diego CA 

2005 
Condo Gallery, Downtown San Diego CA 

2004 
Grand Annex Gallery, Mingei International Museum, Escondido CA
Twigg's Coffee & Teahouse, San Diego CA 
Café Mojo's, La Jolla CA 
The Merrill Lynch Building, Downtown San Diego CA 
First National Bank Center, Downtown San Diego CA 
Emerald Plaza, Downtown San Diego CA 

2003 
Urban Grind Café, San Diego CA 

2002 
San Diego City Library, North Park Branch 
City Arts Festival, Symphony Towers, San Diego CA 
Star of the Sea Restaurant, San Diego CA 

2001 
Bard Hall Gallery, San Diego, CA 
 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2001- Present: 

2009 
"15th Annual Invitational Exhibition"  St. Claire Gallery,  El Cajon CA
"Annual Fall Show 2009", Space 237, Toledo OH
"Meet the Artists 9", Pacific Arts Foundation, Pacific Club, Newport Beach CA 
"4th University Heights Arts Open", Monica's, San Diego CA 
 "Art Kudos International Online Competition", www.artkudos.com___ Award of Merit 
Juried Biennial, William D. Cannon Gallery, Carlsbad CA___ Juror's Award 

2008 
Foothill Fine Arts Western Art Show, La Mesa CA 
Fine Arts Division, California State Fair, Sacramento CA___Award of Merit 
Fine Arts Division, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA__Golden Paints Merit Award 
Plein Air Contest, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA___Second Place
 
2007 
Fine Arts Division, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA___First Place 
Plein Air Contest, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA___Third Place 

2006 
"IIDA Art Show & Auction", S.D. Art Department,  Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Auction, San Diego CA 

2005 
Juried Biennial, William D. Cannon Gallery, Carlsbad CA 
OMA Regional 4, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside CA 
Group Juried Exhibition, Escondido Municipal Gallery 
Wildlife Art Exhibition, San Diego Natural History Museum 
Fine Arts Division, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA___Honorable Mention 
Plein Air Contest, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA___Second Place 
Honor Our Veterans, Escondido Fine Arts Association 

2004 
Open Jury, North County Society of Fine Arts, Poway CA___First Place 

2003 
Group Juried Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute 
International Exhibition, Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles CA 
Fine Arts Division, S.D. County Fair, Del Mar CA___Honorable Mention
Taylor Gallery, San Diego CA 

2001 
Juried Group Exhibits, San Diego Art Institute 
Painting Division, San Diego County Fair, Del Mar CA___Third Place 


ART FESTIVALS: 
2009 
25th Anniversary Mission Federal ArtWalk, Little Italy, San Diego CA 
2008 
ArtWalk, Little Italy, San Diego CA 
2007 
ArtWalk, Little Italy, San Diego CA, Featured Artist 


ART AFFILIATIONS: 
California Art Club, Associate Member
San Diego Watercolor Society
San Diego Fine Arts Society ---Mentorship Program 2009-2010

(619) 204-7903 Art contacts only please.
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