Marty Stewart Huff

Marty Stewart Huff grew up in California with an art and travel loving family. There were frequent trips to the museums and galleries in nearby San Francisco and when visiting other cities and countries. Marty was fascinated by the creativity exhibited by the works of art she saw and was equally drawn to how each piece either defined the artist’s personality or was simply an expression or product of their culture and heritage.

She has also always been delighted by small or miniature objects with lots of detail. As a young teenager Marty recalls a dinner where she was having a conversation with her dad about painters. She told him that her favorite painting was Jan van Eyck’s Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride because of how the enormous amount of detail, iconography, and hidden meaning were contained in such a small work of art, and how each time you looked you would see something new. Marty believes that seeing this painting was the beginning of her journey to becoming the artist she is today.

For many years Marty had “always dabbled” in art. She took painting and ceramics classes in high school and at the University of California, Berkeley while pursuing a science degree. She had always wanted to study art history but had “convinced myself that another path was the way to go”. So she transferred to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she graduated with a Bachelor degree in science. Marty is happily married with two grown children and five grandchildren. When her youngest daughter was in junior high school, Marty finally realized her dream and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee to study art history, graduating with a Masters degree as well as a Certificate in Museum Studies. She worked for several years at the Milwaukee Art Museum coordinating the induction into the museum of the entire archive material from Landfall Press, one of the five major print companies in the United States. She loved her work at the museum meeting artists, helping with exhibits, contributing to catalogs, “and just being surrounded by so many artistic minds”. After she left the museum, Marty taught art history at the School of Professional Studies at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Marty and her husband moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 2019. Quickly she realized that the community in which she now lived was filled with art loving and art producing neighbors and friends. It was in Arizona that Marty discovered her love of bronze sculpture. “I am excited about my series of small javelinas dressed as 1950s and 1960s TV characters. I enjoy the feel of the clay under my hands as I work and create. I have incorporated my love of miniature into my work as well as hiding a few secrets. My tiny furry subjects make me smile and the process is my meditation, relaxation, and joy. It is my hope that my work brings a smile to your face and a bit of joy to your life.”

Marty has continued to travel and collect art from the countries she visits. Not surprisingly, she collects Russian Lacquer boxes. The detail painted on each box is so incredible, often painted with a brush containing just one hair of a squirrel!