Throughout her long career, Coffey celebrated the beauty in everything she painted. She found joy in capturing the flowers in her garden, the interiors of her daughter’s home and the gorgeous vistas from her travels. It took many years of keen observation and experimenting to arrive at the bold, expressive style that characterizes her painting. Her style was her own - daring in color and young in spirit. Born in Milwaukee, Coffey studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Fontainebleau School of Art in France. Early in her career she worked as a commercial illustrator. Influenced by the 19th and 20th century French artists, Vlaminck, Matisse and the Fauves, Coffey became less interested in realistic depictions and began painting with vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes.

Coffey painted in all sizes but favored large scale. She sketched constantly during her travels bringing back many ideas for future work. Coffey enjoyed working on handmade paper, which added depth and texture to the painting surface. A prolific artist, she produced hundreds of paintings and prints. In her last ten years, Coffey’s art focused on her travels to the British Isles, South of France, Spain, Tuscany, Kenya and Tanzania and her home town, Milwaukee. Her fans were many, and the gallery shows sold out quickly. Marion Coffey’s paintings take us on a colorful journey capturing the essence of her subject, whether it is a vase of flowers, the brilliant patterns of African warrior robes, or the Milwaukee skyline. Working until the day she died, Coffey’s art embodies a spirit that remains forever young.

Marion Coffey’s paintings are in public and private collections across the country including the archives of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, Quarles & Brady, Milwaukee, Foley Lardner, Milwaukee, the Medical College of Wisconsin, West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. in Wisconsin, the US Czech Embassy (2007-2009), and the White House in our nation's capital.

See MOWA archives.