Leonard Davies came to painting later in life, bringing with him a lifetime of looking closely at the world.
He titled this exhibition The Joys of Painting as a Pastime to reflect a deeply held belief: it is never too late to begin painting and experience its rewards. After a long and distinguished career as a civil rights attorney, Davies began oil painting at the age of 70—not as a reinvention, but as a natural and enriching next chapter shaped by curiosity, patience, and presence.
For Davies, painting is more than an aesthetic pursuit. He believes all people need meaningful activities that offer a sense of accomplishment. While viewing art engages the intellect, painting multiplies that fulfillment by requiring both sustained mental focus and physical coordination. Through painting, one learns not only to look, but truly to see—expanding perception and quietly enriching the inner world. The practice invites attentiveness rather than urgency, allowing discovery to unfold over time.
The paintings in this exhibition reflect Davies’s connection to the landscapes of the American Southwest. From high alpine vistas to red rock deserts, familiar horizons and expansive skies appear again and again, rendered with restraint and care. These works feel less like declarations and more like conversations with place—measured, reflective, and rooted in observation. There is a sense of time spent looking, waiting, and returning to the same view with fresh eyes.
Davies lives and paints in Durango, Colorado, where both his creative practice and personal history are firmly grounded. He has been married since 1961 to Susan Ayres Davies, a descendant of two founding families of Durango—deepening his long-standing connection to the region he paints. Years devoted to civil rights work required careful listening, empathy, and discernment, qualities that now surface quietly in his approach to art.
Admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1966, Leonard Davies practiced civil rights law until his retirement in 2006, representing individuals and organizations involved in landmark civil rights protests. While that chapter centered on advocacy and justice, painting has offered a different kind of engagement—one grounded in reflection, curiosity, and the simple pleasure of learning something new. Read the article published by the Durango Herald in 2024 for more about Leonard Davies.
Davies hopes this exhibition will encourage others to begin painting—at any age—reminding viewers that creative discovery remains available whenever we choose to begin.
Leonard Davies: The Joys of Painting as a Pastime opens Friday, January 9, in the Barbara Conrad Gallery at the Durango Arts Center, with an opening reception from 5–7 pm. The exhibition runs through February 28, 2026, and is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 pm. A public conversation, It’s Never Too Late to Paint, takes place Thursday, January 29, from 1–3 pm. More information is available at durangoarts.org and leonarddavies.com.
