For more than seventy five years, the love, generosity and good taste of Wally Goodman (1922— 2008) and Patrick Duffy have culminated in one of America's most dynamic private art collections.

Comprised of more than 300 artworks, spanning from the late 18th century to the present day, The Goodman Duffy Collection is, to say the least, eclectic. It has included many legends of the “official” art historical canon, including Goya, Daumier, Klee, Hafif, Rauschenberg, Tuttle, Christo, William T. Wiley and Willem de Kooning. But what more fully defines its character is the simultaneous representation of new and emerging artists, such as Gordon Cheung, Justin Favela, Abigail Goldman, Volker Hüller and Angela Kallus (to name just a few).

Of course, collecting is only part of the equation. Art supporters should be more than accumulators. Easily, the most rewarding part of the process is THE SHARING. The Goodman Duffy Collection has shared hundreds of works through exhibition loans and museum gifts, a process through which wonderful connections have been made, and a lasting legacy is being built.

In 2017, the Goodman Duffy Collection added a further party when Patrick Duffy married Luis Velazquez. Luis grew up in Reno, Nevada. His interest in art began while in college, when an elective art class introduced him to the work of Georgia O’Keeffe. Soon, the Nevada Museum of Art became a favorite hangout for Luis and his friends. After being accepted to the Respiratory Program at the College of Southern Nevada, Luis moved to Las Vegas, where he met Patrick. They have been married for more than 10 years now, and in that span have acquired several new works.

What initially inspired Patrick’s collecting was the interest and profound scholarly tutelage of Wally. “His knowledge was so robust and so deep,” Patrick recalls, “that it was not unusual for museum curators and directors or university professors to be spellbound with his travels, conversations and comparisons.” It is now a passing of knowledge, stories, experiences and travels between Patrick and Luis that is shaping the collection in new ways.

Today, Luis and Patrick live actively in New Orleans, where they continue to collect, learn about the work of local artists and donate actively. Every new piece or new artist they encounter becomes a journey, Luis explains, “mutually filled with our discussions, opinions, and at the end, the thrill of living with the work. The whole process, the communication with the artist or with Patrick, the interplay of “WHY”, the decision to acquire or not and then the next hurdle, “WHERE” do we place it? It becomes an intimate learning experience, as I realize the intricacy and importance of acquiring a work, which immediately supports the artist’s creative livelihood, their life, family and future ability to continue painting or sculpting.”

We invite everyone to take an interest in this vibrant collection. Browse the works by following the link above, visit the links page for information about the artists, and if you would like to exhibit work from the collection, or inquire about a possible donation, visit the contact page to get in touch. Thank you for visiting the Goodman Duffy Collection online; and maybe one day in person?