Ann Graffy

Ann was born to an Illinois farming family on March 21, 1953. She became interested in art during her early childhood and later began formal studies at the University of Arkansas where she received her bachelors degree.

During Ann’s college years she entered into a religious community and became a Roman Catholic nun with the Sisters of Mercy in Northern New Mexico. In her ten years of service to the order, Ann taught various art classes and developed art programs for many parochial schools. Fortunately, the Sisters of Mercy encouraged Ann to continue her own artistic development. She designed and executed several murals and other public works while creating a multitude of graphic designs for cards and calendars. After ten years of religious life, Ann left the order to become a wife and mother. Since that time she has received many private commissions for paintings and sculptures, including a four by six foot multi-media piece for a health center in Loredo, Texas.

Ann has exhibited her work in a two woman show at Fort Smith Art Center, Arkansas. She also had a show at the Jemez National Monument, New Mexico. The Jemez National Monument show was Ann’s first attempt at offering her art work in a commercial market. She is quite prolific and her work is always of high quality with a strong, warm feeling.

“I think, basically, I tell stories with clay. Clay is simple, direct and ancient. Good ingredients for a story. It’s not really all that neat and worked out. Clay is forgiving and easy and it feels so good. I really just like it.” says Ann.