The noted modeler and artist was a mainstay in the pages of Model Railroader throughout the 1980s
Malcolm Furlow, noted model railroader and artist, died in early March from the effects of long COVID. He was 77 years old.
Though Malcolm had an American Flyer train set as a child, he didn’t become interested in model railroading until later in life. Malcolm attended the University of Texas to pursue an art degree. He then spent nearly two decades as a professional musician, playing backup for The Beach Boys and Lou Rawls, among others. Following his music career, Malcolm built movie sets and models for Walt Disney Studios. In 1977 Malcolm read a John Olson article about his HOn3 layout, which sparked his interest in the hobby.
By the early 1980s Malcolm’s byline was regularly appearing in the pages of Model Railroader. The articles often revolved around projects on his 10 x 10-foot HOn3 Denver & Rio Chama Western. When asked about his modeling philosophy in the July 1981 issue, Malcolm said, “Model railroading gives me a creative release, and it allows me to escape. I think it’s good if you can stretch a hobby a little beyond the point of having fun. For me it fills a need for expression. Bull sessions with other modelers and operating sessions with friends help enrich the total, but I really enjoy getting away to the train room to work by myself for a couple of hours.”
Within five years, Malcolm had become one of the most recognized names in the hobby. At MR’s 50th anniversary forum in July 1983, he was on the dais with an all-star lineup of modelers and manufacturers, including John Armstrong, Bruce Chubb, Keith Gutierrez, Allen Keller, John Kunzie, Russ Larson, and Bruce Walthers. You can read Malcolm’s comments from that event in the January 1984 issue.
Jim Kelly, former MR senior editor, wrote in the November 1983 issue, “[Malcolm] always brings a spirit of fun to his projects, and his layout photos have a breathtaking sweep that’s distinctive and instantly recognizable. The dramatic lighting and rich color are reminiscent of the work of the late John Allen, and indeed, Malcolm does credit Allen’s influence.”
Malcolm also became a regular in Kalmbach Video productions during this time. He appeared in Building Model Railroad Scenery with the Experts alongside John Olson, Dave Frary, and Jim Hediger. He shared more tips and techniques in Weathering Railroad Models with Malcolm Furlow. Visit the Video Vault section of Trains.com Video to see some of Malcolm’s work.
In addition to his HOn3 Denver & Rio Chama Western, Malcolm built the HOn3 San Juan Central. The 8 x 10-foot model railroad, now on display at "The Magic of Scale Model Railroading" Exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, was noteworthy as it was MR’s first narrow gauge project layout. The articles ran from November 1983 to August 1984, skipping January 1984 (MR’s 50th anniversary issue). The stories were compiled into the book HO Narrow Gauge Railroad You Can Build.
Malcolm’s last major series for MR was the Carbondale Central project layout, which appeared in the January, February, and March 1988 issues. The roughly 8 x 8-foot HO scale model railroad featured tracks running through an urban setting. Though the layout packed a lot into a small space, the plan was designed with the beginner in mind and used sectional track.
Following a decade-long run in the hobby, Malcolm returned art roots and became an internationally known painter. “Malcolm is one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever known,” MR’s former editor and publisher Russ Larson wrote in the November 1988 issue, “He’s a free spirit who’s managed to make a living as a singer, musician, author, photographer, custom layout builder, and most recently as a Southwestern artist specializing in big, bright, bold acrylic paintings of Native Americans.
“He’s been so successful in his new career that he hasn’t had time for model railroading. He has acquired some On3 equipment and may start a layout when he gets the ranch shaped up. Let’s hope so. It would be great to see some of his work in MR once again.”
Russ’ wish came true. Malcolm’s final MR byline, “Wild West masterpiece,” was published in the September 2003 issue. In the article, he wrote about his 1:20.3-proportion Ferrocarril de Rio Mantañas layout. Malcolm built the large scale model railroad in a 13 x 20-foot firewood storage room attached to the studio at his ranch near Taos, N.M.
Malcolm Furlow’s paintings channel powerful images of a heritage embedded deep within his DNA. Furlow was considered a living legend and significant contributor to the artistic fabric of the American Southwest. Of Choctaw decent, Furlow was known for strong color combinations that make his expressionist paintings of Native American themes come alive with feeling. Furlow speaks with color. The bright, chromatically-fragmented images that he painted convey the emotion the artist felt for his subject matter. His figurative works are not portraits of individuals, but rather statements about the human condition. “The further Native Americans are removed from their heritage and embraced by Anglo culture, the greater the conflict that results. This is the dichotomy that fuels the fires for my paintings," the artist said. He named Fritz Scholder, Andy Warhol and Peter Max as an important influence on his work.
Malcolm Furlow's paintings command principal placement in private and public collections globally, including the U.S. Embassies of Morocco, Belgium and Beijing; the White House; CEO Magazine; The Smithsonian; Mobil Oil; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Samuel Goldwyn; Richard Pryor; Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush; Senator Hillary Clinton; Bernadette Peters; Wes Studi; Phyllis Diller; William DeVane; B.J. Thomas; Jane Goodall Institute; Darryl Hannah; Eiteljorg Museum; Jon Bon Jovi; National Wildlife Museum; Koshare Museum; Santa Fe Fine Arts Museum; Paul Clarkson; Coca Cola Olympic Pavilion; Make a Wish Foundation; NBC's Today Show; Raymond James Financial Art Collection; Columbia University; and many others.
M. Furlow
A recent near-death experience changed Malcolm Furlow's life profoundly. He had a vision of Jesus and an overwhelming understanding of His powerful love for us. The direction of his life and his work were changed in an instant. His desire to paint was intensified, and he is now is driven to present his vision of Jesus' work of salvation that He has done for each one of us.
Malcolm Furlow began drawing American Indians at the age of six, when his father had Malcolm accompany him on business trips throughout New Mexico. Beginning with watercolors, Furlow realized the medium was ill suited for large canvases and switched to brightly colored acrylic images of Native Americans.
As a young man he received a track scholarship to the University of Texas and decided to choose art as his major. Unfortunately, his art professor disapproved of his style of painting and a disappointed Furlow left college to become a rock and roll musician. For 18 years he played the sax, bass and sometimes the guitar, playing back up for such notable groups and soloists as the Beach Boys and Lou Rawls. Leaving his music career behind, Furlow used his artistic talent to construct models for movie sets at Walt Disney Studios.
But, in 1987 after hearing scholar Joseph Campbell's words "Follow Your Bliss," Furlow decided to go back to his first love, painting. Furlow returned to a subject dear to him - painting the Native American. "I knew I wanted to say it with color because that's the emotion of it. I've got to make the viewer feel what I feel. All I'm trying to do is paint them as they are - paint their culture, their dignity and their stature. I didn't want to do portraits of Indians, I wanted to say something about the human condition."
A recently filmed documentary entitled the "Life and Art of Malcolm Furlow, "refers to him as a "Renaissance Man": the quintessential cowboy, musician, and intellectual artist. He is an award-winning painter, whose accolades include the Silver award from the Sorbonne, and the highly coveted Gold Award from the world-renown Luxembourg Museum, Paris. PBS featured him in a documentary called "The Life and Art of Malcolm Furlow", he was also awarded the Gold Award from the Luxembourg in Paris (an honor shared with Pablo Picasso).
As of spring 2007, Furlow has "sold-out" over fifty solo shows. Malcolm Furlow's paintings command principal placement in exhibitions, philanthropist campaigns, and private collections around the world, including the U.S. Embassies of Morocco, Belgium and Beijing; the White House; CEO Magazine; The Smithsonian; Mobil Oil; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Samuel Goldwyn; Richard Pryor; Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush; Senator Hillary Clinton; Bernadette Peters; Wes Studi; Phyllis Diller; William DeVane; B.J. Thomas; Jane Goodall Institute; Darryl Hannah; Eiteljorg Museum; Jon Bon Jovi; National Wildlife Museum; Koshare Museum; Santa Fe Fine Arts Museum; Paul Clarkson; Coca Cola Olympic Pavilion; Make a Wish Foundation; NBC's Today Show; Raymond James Financial Art Collection; Columbia University.
Malcolm is equally celebrated in the industry of Model Railroading. His published articles about photography and model railroading are innumerable.
Well-known "Model Railroader" author and long-time Taos resident, Malcolm Furlow, passed away in March 2023 from the effects of long COVID. He was 77 years old.
I have and had been Malcolm Furlow's primary agent, dealer, confidant and confessor for over thirty years. Through our flamboyant and decadent times, I came to learn how to read this genius between the lines and all-around "Super Star" in his many vague trappings; be it art, sports, music or just about anything he attempted.
From his music days in Vegas, hobnobbing with celebrities right alongside his mafia buddies, to landing in Hollywood via handmade Harleys and his cousin "Vinney the Thief". How the girls they picked up on the beach discovered him reading a copy of one the "studio" rags that had been tossed out of a car driving over a culvert by-pass which — as if a gift from god — landed in his hands opened to a two-page spread from Disney soliciting artists to draw and paint images of Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and all the other Daffys!
The girls cut and trimmed his Irish Cherokee locks, shaved him, went to Kmart and bought him a new wardrobe of a dress shirt, pair of pants, a pair of socks and a unit of underwear. He cycled down to the Disney Studios and met John Olson, then Senior VP. Olsen was also a model railroad builder and enthusiast who had already reveled in the glorious fame of Furlow’s brilliant contributions to the genre of scale model railroad building, which took him to China, Switzerland and all over Europe, where he would later return having accomplished his masterful paintings of the dazzling and daring New Mexico Southwest.
It was there that he accumulated numerous awards from numerous museums, including the grand prix gold medallions from the Louvre and the even more prestigious "Luxembourg Museum" that not even Picasso had garnered. He returned to Taos, where he rescued the "working man's" vision of trying to make a living at his finely honed craft, continuously astounding the art world with his numerous awards and sold-out shows. He confided in me that after many sold-out shows, he and one of his wives would drop in to an airport with only a credit card, he would turn to his gal and say, "Where do you want to go?"
They would flip through a menu of exotic places and off they would go! We sailed the itinerant rivers and roads to Montana, California, Colorado, Texas, Arizona and more, always accompanied by his best friend "Hector.” Hector was half human and the joy of his life along with his fancy highbred horse "Tito." I remember more than once stopping by the side of the road to pick up fallen bales of hay that I would deliver to the ranch.
We had our ups and downs over some turbulent years, but we always seemed to make amends. I married him and Jen one late afternoon in the parking lot when they were en route to Holy Cross Hospital when Malcolm was once again at the threshold of death. I sort of introduced him to Jen, who was a practicing nurse at the hospital. When she came into a room once after Malcolm collapsed at a show in the gallery and a local art enthusiast and doctor revived him and immediately called the ER to say that Malcolm Furlow would probably be there soon. Jen almost lost it and later confessed that she thought we were the Taos Mafia.
All decked out in gold and fine suits, sunglasses and western wear, Furlow was in his hospital bed wearing his shades with the black cowboy hat and cowboy boots I had got him for a show in Montana.
After he didn't die that time, he invited Jen out for a chocolate malt shake. They then hooked up. The stories abide as the proverbial dude said, into time immemorial.
I'm going to miss that scoundrel but rest in the solace that I actually met and knew a real genius.
A living legend in the Southwest and critically acclaimed throughout the world, Malcolm Furlow’s accolades include the Silver award from the Sorbonne, and the highly coveted Gold Award from the world-renowned Luxembourg Museum in Paris. Vibrant colors and broad, bold strokes are hallmarks of his contemporary paintings.
Once in a while we find ourselves surprised to discover that a person who is a "Southwestern Artist" is actually an East Coast, West Coast, or Big City transplant that wasn't born or raised here but has moved here and learned to paint in the Southwestern style. Nothing wrong with that - it's hard to blame anyone who would want to leave behind the trappings of city or suburban life to enjoy the beauty and culture of the Southwest. And what artist could resist panting it? However, as the song says, "Ain't nothing like the real thing," and Malcolm Furlow is by all means the Real Thing.
Malcolm is one of a number of artists here who actually grew up right here in the Southwest and then for whatever reason found themselves residing in New York, Los Angeles or even Europe or somewhere else abroad in a cosmopolitan environment and found themselves exposed to a whole new world of every kind of art imaginable. Thankfully, they have returned to this area bringing with them a whole new paradigm. Never losing respect for the great Southwestern tradition in art, Malcolm Furlow and folks like him are taking it to a new level, nourished by tradition, yet exploring terrain previously uncharted.
A recently filmed documentary entitled the Life and Art of Malcolm Furlow, refers to him as a Renaissance Man: the quintessential cowboy, musician, and intellectual artist. He is an award-winning painter, whose accolades include the Silver award from the Sorbonne, and the highly coveted Gold Award from the world-renown Luxembourg Museum, Paris. PBS featured him in a documentary called The Life and Art of Malcolm Furlow, he was also awarded the Gold Award from the Luxembourg in Paris (an honor shared with Pablo Picasso)
As of spring 2007, Furlow has sold-out over fifty solo shows. Malcolm Furlow’s paintings command principal placement in exhibitions, philanthropist campaigns, and private collections around the world, including the U.S. Embassies of Morocco, Belgium and Beijing; the White House; CEO Magazine; The Smithsonian; Mobil Oil; Arnold Schwarzenegger; Samuel Goldwyn; Richard Pryor; Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush; Senator Hillary Clinton; Bernadette Peters; Wes Studi; Phyllis Diller; William DeVane; B.J. Thomas; Jane Goodall Institute; Darryl Hannah; Eiteljorg Museum; Jon Bon Jovi; National Wildlife Museum; Koshare Museum; Santa Fe Fine Arts Museum; Paul Clarkson; Coca Cola Olympic Pavilion; Make a Wish Foundation; NBC’s Today Show; Raymond James Financial Art Collection; Columbia University; and many others.
Malcolm is equally celebrated in the industry of Model Railroading. He has written several How-To books for Kodak photography, worked as a photographer for Italian Vogue. Malcolm has also written several How-To books for Model Railroading. His published articles about photography and model railroading are innumerable.