Duke Windsor Fine Art Studio
Duke Windsor
American Artist
b. 1960
Birthplace: Texarkana, Texas
Studio: La Mesa, CA (Mt. Helix), San Diego County, USA
I was born in Texarkana, Texas, and my work is shaped by movement—through places, disciplines, and lived experience.
Before I ever opened a studio, I served as a combat illustrator and drill instructor in the United States Marine Corps, where observation, precision, and storytelling were essential. After leaving the service, I lived a life defined by risk and rigor, working as a freelance illustrator while competing as a rodeo cowboy in bull riding, bareback riding, and steer wrestling. Those years instilled a deep respect for physicality, endurance, and the quiet dignity found in work and struggle—elements that continue to surface in my art. Music has also been a constant companion. I studied classical voice at San Diego State University and performed with the San Diego Opera Chorus.
Today, I remain active as a singerâ€songwriter and guitar player. Music, like painting, teaches me timing, restraint, and the emotional power of negative space. Martial arts have been another lifelong discipline. I owned and operated a martial arts studio for seven years and earned my 3rd Dan in Shaolin Kempo in 2001 under Headmaster Robert Perlswig. In 2003, I was promoted to 4th Dan by the Sijo Victor “Sonny” Gascon, founder of Karaâ€Zenpoâ€Goâ€Shinjutsu Kempo. Training across multiple martial traditions has deeply influenced my understanding of form, balance, and intent—principles that translate directly into my visual work. I opened my first art studio in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in 1994 and have maintained a dedicated studio practice ever since.
My work spans pastel, oil, acrylic, watercolor, linocut block printing, and, most recently, terracotta sculpture. I move freely between plein air, representational, and abstract approaches, allowing each subject to determine its own visual language. My Urban Capes series has been exhibited and awarded in juried exhibitions, galleries, and corporate venues throughout San Diego and Southern California, and my work is held in private collections across the United States and Europe. I have also completed numerous portrait commissions and military historical works rooted in authenticity and lived experience.
My work has been exhibited internationally, including in Ankara, Istanbul, Mexico, Yokohama, and across the United States.
I am an Associate Artist member of the California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, the International Acrylic Painters Association, and the San Diego Watercolor Society. Teaching and service have been important extensions of my studio practice. I have taught art to both adults and children, juried local and regional exhibitions, and served in leadership and advisory roles supporting arts education and public art initiatives throughout San Diego. These experiences reinforce my belief that art is not only an act of creation, but of stewardship. Today, I live and work from my studio on Mt. Helix near La Mesa, California, where my practice has been rooted since 2015. My work is represented by Sparks Gallery of San Diego, CA, and via ADC Fine Arts in Cincinnati, OH. Every piece I create reflects a life spent crossing disciplines—military, musical, athletic, and artistic—searching for moments of truth, resilience, and quiet humanity.
CV
Solo Exhibitions:
2026 City of Encinitas Visual Art Program, "Convergence" Exhibit, City of Encinitas, USA
2025 Convergence, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
2024 Reflections, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
2023 Nada es Imposible, El Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura (IMAC Tijuana, México
2022 Reverence, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
2021 Nothing's Impossible, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA, USA
2020 Radiance, Sparks Gallery, Presence: "Radiance," San Diego, CA, USA
Illuminance, City of Encinitas Cultural Arts, Encinitas, CA, USA
2019 Athenaeum School Faculty Solo Exhibition, La Jolla, CA, USA
2018 Rivers of Gold, EAP-Municipal Gallery, Escondido, CA, USA
2015 Urban Textures, EAP-Municipal Gallery, Escondido, CA, USA
2014 Panama-California Exposition, San Diego Airport, San Diego, CA, USA
2013 Sophie's Gallery, Liberty Station, Solo Award Show, San Diego, CA, USA
2012 RED, Alexander Salazar Fine Art, San Diego, CA, USA
2011 BLUE, Alexander Salazar Fine Art, San Diego, CA, USA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2026 Allied Artists of America's 2026 Associate Online Show
2024 Realism on the Hudson, Howland Center Northcutt Hall Gallery, Beacon, NY, USA
2023 Art Comes Alive, ADC FINE ART, Cincinnati, OH, USA
URBANScapes: A National Juried Exhibition, D'Art Center, Norfolk, VA, USA
CAL EXPO--California State Fair, Sacramento, CA, USA
2022 Art Comes Alive, ADC FINE ART, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Pop Smoke: A Veteran Art Exhibition Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA, USA
CAL EXPO--California State Fair, Sacramento, CA, USA
National Fine Art Show Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, USA
91st Annual Online Open Juried Show, National Art League, Douglaston, NY, USA
Oceanside Museum of Art, OMA Biennale, Oceanside, CA, USA
2021 William D. Cannon Juried Biennale, Carlsbad, CA, June
Art Comes Alive, ADC FINE ART, Cincinnati, OH, USA
2020 Honoring All Who Served, Estrada Garcia Gallery, Texas, USA
October Group National, Jones Gallery, Kansas City, MO, USA
Southwest Artist International, Mena Art Gallery, Mena, AR, USA
Minis 2020, Sparks Gallery, - Group Exhibition, San Diego, CA, USA
1st Miami Contemporary Small Format Exhibition, Cowry Art Studio, Miami, FL. USA
Still Life Group Show, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
2019 In Gold We Trust, Aston Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
28th Juried Exhibition, La Jolla Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA, USA
L' Atelier Berkshires, National League, Great Barrington, MA, Douglaston, NY, USA
SWA National Competition, Mena Gallery, Mena, AR, USA
Sparks Gallery, Harmony / Group Show, San Diego, CA, USA
2018 heART of Mt. Helix, Mt. Helix Foundation, La Mesa, CA, USA
William D. Cannon, 2019 Biennial Exhibition, Carlsbad, CA, USA
2017 Traditional to Modern, Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ, USA
Gallery Selections, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
The Barrio, La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
2016 10 x 10 small works, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
California State Senate Exhibition, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA, USA
36th Annual Juried Traveling Exhibition, Water Works Museum, Miles City, MT: USA
San Diego Landscapes, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA, USA
Landscapes of the West II, Olaf Wieghorst Museum, El Cajon, CA, USA
2014 Fine Arts Under the Same Sky, San Diego History Center, San Diego, CA, USA
Artistic Eden IV, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena, CA, USA
Rural Places & Urban Spaces, California Art Club, Altadena, CA, USA
November Herbert B. Turner Gallery, OMA Artist Alliance, Del Mar, CA, USA
30th Annual Juried Show, National Society of Artists, Baytown, TX, USA
Regional Juried Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
SDMA Artist's Guild, Juried Exhibit, Made in San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
University Club, Nature Improved Exhibition, San Diego, CA, USA
2013 Sophie's Gallery, Liberty Station, Solo show Award, San Diego, CA, USA
Nature Improved, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA, USA
San Diego History Center, Nature Improved, September
2012 California Contemporary Museum of Art, Ontario, CA, USA
2010 Athenaeum Music & Arts Library 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, La Jolla, CA, USA
2009 Fall Art Walk Show, Space 237, Toledo, OH, USA
Art Kudos International, Online Competition, Scott Canty, Juror, USA
Cityscapes, Sue Greenwood Fine Arts, Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Cannon Invitational, William D. Cannon Gallery, Carlsbad, CA, USA
California State Fair, Sacramento, CA, Award of Merit Acrylic Painting, USA
2008 Cannon Invitational, William D. Cannon Gallery, Carlsbad, CA, USA
2005 OMA Regional 4, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA, USA
2004 William D. Cannon Art Gallery, Juried Biennial, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Art Fairs:
2026 San Diego Made Maker's Fair, La Mesa, CA, USA
2023 Red Dot Miami, ADC Fine Art, Miami, FL, USA
2022 Art San Diego, Booth # 122, RMG, SD Convention Center, San Diego, CA, USA
2021 Art San Diego, San Diego Convention Center, USA
2014 Art Hamptons, Sergott Contemporary Art Alliance, Bridgehampton, NY, USA
2013 Red Dot Miami, Sergott Contemporary Art Alliance, Miami, FL, USA
Affordable Art Fair, SCAA, Seattle, WA, USA
Art Hamptons, International Arts Fair, Bridgehampton, NY, USA
San Diego Art Fair, Sergott Contemporary Art Alliance, San Diego, CA, USA
Affordable Art Fair, Sergott Contemporary Art Alliance, New York, NY, USA
Selected Collections:
San Diego History Center, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, USA
Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA, USA
San Diego Civic Art Collection, San Diego, CA, USA
David C. Driskel Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Duke Windsor is featured in various national and international private collections.
Awards:
2023 “ACA”, ADC FINE ART, Life-time Achievement Award, Cincinnati, OH, USA
2022 ADC FINE ART, Purchase Award & Realism of the Year, Cincinnati, OH, USA
2019 Light Space & Time Gallery, "Cityscapes," January, Special Award, & 7th Place.
Fusion Art, 4th Annual Landscapes Art Exhibition, Online, Best of Show (Traditional)
2018 Escondido Arts Partnership, Summation, Escondido, CA, November, Honorable Mention
Nainsook Art & Frame Gallery, HeART of Mt. Helix, July 1st Place, & 2nd Place.
Del Mar Fair, Del Mar, CA, July, Honorable Mention, Donated Award
2014 Del Mar Fair, Del Mar, CA, July, Merit Award
2013 Sophie's Gallery, Solo Award Show, San Diego, CA, USA
2009 Art Kudos International, Online Competition, Scott Canty, Juror, USA
California State Fair, Sacramento, CA, Award of Merit Acrylic Painting, USA
2004 North County Society of Fine Arts, Poway, CA, First Place USA
Grants:
2021 Puffin Foundation Grant, USA
Selected Press:
Seth Combs, "Paint It Snack”, San Diego Magazine, 2022
M Liss Hinshaw, "Duke Windsor's Paintings of Juicy Burgers Inspire More Than Hunger," Cuisine Noir, 2022
Seth Combs, "Food for Thought," San Diego Union-Tribune Featured Artist, 2021
Joyell Nevins, " La Mesa artist brings out Radiance' in his work," La Mesa Courier, 2020
Karla Peterson, " How artist Duke Windsor found creative riches in the streets of San Diego,”
San Diego Union-Tribune, 2019
Delle Willet, "Portrait of an Artist," North Park News, 2016
Education/Training:
12/2026: MBA, University of Phoenix
2023 -2025: Business, University of Phoenix, Cum Laude
1985-1987: Classical Voice, San Diego State University, USA
1979-1981: Combat Illustrator/Graphic Specialist, & Drill Instructor, United States Marine Corps
####
