BIOGRAPHY
Portrait of Dorris Curtis by Gene Hatfield
Dorris Marjorie Lafferty Curtis (March 4, 1908-August 27, 2006) began painting at the age of 65, shortly before retiring from teaching first grade in the Conway Public School District. She was influenced by the work of Grandma Moses, but unlike Moses, Dorris Curtis was not a naive, or untrained artist. Throughout her life, Mrs. Curtis took classes and attended workshops on art. After retiring from teaching in 1973, she was the subject of a one-person show in Memphis at the Women’s Exchange. She went on to exhibit many times throughout her life, including a prestigious show at the R.H. Love Galleries in Chicago, entitled “Memories and Moments” which ran from November 2-December 5, 1985. Mrs. Curtis is also a UCA graduate receiving her bachelor’s degree in education in 1940 and a masters in education in 1962.