Biography of fine artist Denham Clements

"I have always been drawn to the human face - especically older people; their faces show their history, their life's experiences and I endeavor to narrate their stories in my work.

"As I began to understand my technique better, I started to branch out in other areas (reflective surfaces like glass, crystal and chrome provided ultra-realistic subject matter, as did the vibrant colors and shapes of flowers), but the visual reality of these objects was actually very abstract as I tried to recreate it on canvas.

"The result of all this has been an appreciation of both genres and I now paint very realistic images but from an abstract foundation.

"To me, all realism is a composite of many abstractions. This becomes clear when you view one of my canvases, be it a face or the handle bar of a motorcycle."

_______________________________________________

Denham tells you more...

"What I paint and why I paint is a result of my past and continuing experiences.

"I was a fun, sensitive, angular sort of kid with a bit of rascal thrown in. My interests were in music, not in art; that appeared much later. Any creative musings were shut down as I graduated from college...with the draft and war in SE Asia looming on the horizon I made a life-changing decision and opted for OCS in the US Marine Corps. Long story short, I survived 13 months as a combat commander in Vietnam and was ultimately released from active duty as a Captain in 1969.

"My post-war thinking prompted me to aggressively pursue 'living'. In the early 1970's I left Florida with 3 other guys on a 100 yr. old Danish schooner and headed into the Bermuda Triangle...through the Bahamas and into the Caribbean. I stayed in St. Thomas for one year then flew to Europe for a 4 month sojourn and ultimately wound up in Israel. While there I studied Hebrew, explored the land, the culture and its fascinating history. In the meantime, I lied my way into a chef's position at a French/Italian restaurant in Tel-Aviv... but that's another story.

"...back to the United States for a short period of time only to return to the sea. I flew to northern Scotland to rendezvous with a Marine buddy and we sailed his 30 ft. sloop from the British Isles to Portugal, West Africa, turned right and then headed across the Atlantic. In the northern latitudes (Irish Sea, English Channel, etc.) the gales were an ever-present threat, but the southern latitudes (with the tradewinds) were glorious. The actual crossing from Casablanca to St Maarten took 29 days.

"By the mid-70's I was wearying of a life at sea. Having some creative impulses that needed addressing, I packed my seabag and moved to northern New Mexico (Taos) to try my hand at painting.

"After several years of toil, experimentation and thought, things began to come together in ultra-realistic detail on canvas, and to my surprise a career began to develop. By 1979 I was exhibiting with the nation's leading super-realists (Chuck Close, Richard Estes, Duane Hansen, etc)..I was off and running."

CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS:

More coming soon!

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS:

Karen Lynne Gallery, 101 Plaza Real South, Ste 1, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Tuscon Museum of Art, part of the permanent collection "Art of the American
West", Tuscon, AZ, Phone: (561)338-9801

GICLEE PRINTS:

Some of Denham's new pieces are now available as limited edition giclée prints.
Email Denham for prices and shipping information.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

1998 - Culiver Cadillac & The Book Vine, Scottsdale, Arizona

1997 - The Book Vine, Scottsdale, Arizona

1981 - P, M & Stein Gallery, New York, New York

1979 - The Foundry, Washington, DC

1979 - Gallery Allene, Annapolis, Maryland

DUET EXHIBITIONS:

1984 - "Two Western Realists" - The Joan Lyon Gallery, Aspen, Colorado

1981 - "Black White & Color" with Marcie McKinnon - S. Rudy Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

GROUP EXHIBITIONS & INVITATIONALS:

2005 - Caesarea Gallery, Boca Raton, FL

2005 - Karen Lynne Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2004 - Caesarea Gallery, Boca Raton, FL

2004 - Karen Lynne Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2003 - Caesarea Gallery, Boca Raton, FL

2002 - "Cheyenne Frontier Days", Western Spirit Art Show, the Old West
Museum, Cheyenne, WY

2002 - Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Coconut Grove, FL

2001 - "Traditional Fine Art 2001", juried exhibition at
The Art Center at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos NM

2000 - "Seen/Unseen", 9th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Runnels Gallery,
Eastern New Mexico University, NM

1998 - "Annual Indian Market Exhibition" - Contemporary Southwest Galleries,
Santa Fe, New Mexico

1996 - "Fine Art of Surgery" - 2nd Annual Invitational, Department of Surgery
Endowment

1996 - "Art in Embassies" Program sponsored by U.S. Department of State,
Ambassador's Residence, Lima, Peru

1994 - "Gallery Opening / Print Signing" - Buffalo Gallery, Tysons Corner, Virginia

1993 - "Spring Group Show" - The West Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1993 - "Fall Group Show" - The West Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1992 - "New Art of the West" - 3rd Eiteljorg Invitational, Eiteljorg Museum of
American Indian and Western Art, Indianapolis, Indiana

1992 - "MAGNIFICO!" - Albuquerque Festival of the Arts, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1992 - "Common Ground" - An Exhibition of the Permanent Collection, The
Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1991 - "MAGNIFICO!" - Albuquerque Festival of the Arts, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1990 - "Spring Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1990 - "Fall Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1990 - "Art of Albuquerque" - Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico

1990 - "8th Anniversary Invitational" - Dartmouth Street Gallery, Albuquerque,
New Mexico

1989 - "Spring Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1989 - "Fall Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1989 - "Black and White" - Santa Fe Spring Festival of Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1989 - "Annual Miniature Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1988 - "Spring Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1988 - "Fall Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1987 - "Neighbors" - The Museum, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

1987 - "Fall Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1987 - "Air" - Taos Spring Arts Festival, Taos, New Mexico

1986 - "Taos Invites Taos" - Taos Arts Festival, Taos, New Mexico

1986 - "Neighbors" - The Museum, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

1986 - "Fall Group Show" - The Morgan Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

1985 - "Taos Invites Taos" - Taos Arts Festival, Taos, New Mexico

1985 - "Photorealism, 1985" - The Joan Lyon Gallery, Aspen, Colorado

1985 - "Landscapes of the Southwest" - Stables Art Center, Taos, New Mexico

1984 - "New Art New Mexico" - Stables Art Center, Taos, New Mexico

1983 - "Three Western Realists" - Gallery 10, Aspen, Colorado

1983 - "Faces of Taos" - Stables Art Center, Taos, New Mexico

1982 - "Taos Rejected" - Stables Art Center, Taos, New Mexico

1981 - "Made in (New) Mexico" - S. Rudy Gallery, Houston, Texas

1981 - "Eight from New Mexico" - San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
San Francisco, California

1981 - "Art of the Southwest" - BFM Gallery, New York, New York

1980 - "Here and Now; 35 Artists in New Mexico" - The Albuquerque Museum,
Albuquerque, New Mexico

1980 - "Cowboys and Indians" - The Avarda Center for the Arts and Humanities,
Arvada, Colorado

1979 - "Reflections in Realism" - The Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM

JURIED EXHIBITIONS:

2005 - 38th International Exhibition, International Museum of Art, El Paso, TX

2000 - "Free Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale" - The Hubbard Museum of
American Art, Ruidoso, New Mexico

1999 - "Gateway National Juried Art Show" - Division of Cultural Affairs,
Farmington Museum Gateway Park, Farmington, New Mexico

1998 - "Free Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale" - The Hubbard Museum of
American Art, Ruidoso, New Mexico

1997 - "MAGNIFICO!" - Albuquerque Festival of the Arts, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Lewinger-Hamilton Award

1997 - "Fall America Art Show & Sale" - Museum of the Horse, Ruidoso, New Mexico
- Best of Show Award

1986 - "The Spirit in Art" - Taos Spring Arts Festival, Taos, New Mexico

1985 - "Taos Today" - Taos Arts Festival, Taos, New Mexico

1984 - "Lubbock Arts Festival" - Lubbock, Texas

1983 - "Lubbock Arts Festival" - Lubbock, Texas

1982 - "Taos Today" - Taos Art Festival, Stables Art Center, Taos, New Mexico

1982 - "Photographers of Taos" - Stables Art Center, Taos, New Mexico

1982 - "Evolving Images" - Santa Fe Festival of the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1979 - "Taos Open Awards; Stables Gallery, Taos, New Mexico

LECTURES & DEMONSTRATIONS:

1992 - "Painting Demonstration" - Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and
Western Art, Indianapolis, Indiana

1984 - "Professional Ethics in Museums" Seminar at The Museum, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, Texas

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Barrett, Marjorie. "Arvada Sets Major Art Series" ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS,
August 10, 1980

Bell, David. "The Heros Live On". Review of "New Art / New Mexico", Stables Art
Center, Taos, New Mexico, September, 1984

Braun, Moira. "Life in Black & White... a profile on Denham Clements".
SANTA FE PROFILE MAGAZINE, September, 1981

Chaffee, Katherine. "Art of the American West", MUSE, Sept/Oct 1980

Chaffee, Katherine. "Peculiar the the West", ARTSPACE, September 1980

Chaffee, Katherine. "Visions of the West", ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAGAZINE,
December, 1981

Clements, Denham. "Few Cast Stones", response to review by Meg Scherch,
THE TAOS NEWS, June 12, 1986

Cooke, Regina. "Art Notes (Denham Clements)", THE TAOS NEWS, March 17, 1983

Cooke, Regina. "Art Notes (Denham Clements)", THE TAOS NEWS, March 15, 1984

Cooke, Regina. "Art Notes: Clements to Exhibit at The Museum at Texas Tech
University...", THE TAOS NEWS, January 1, 1987

Daigh, Janice. "Realist Shows" THE TAOS NEWS, December 27, 1979

Daigh, Janice. "Clements Portraits Real", THE TAOS NEWS, September, 1980

Dunham, Judith. "A Review of Eight from New Mexico" at the San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art, ARTWEEK, March 21, 1981

Duty, Michael. "The West That Was and The West That Is" Exhibition catalogue
3rd Eiteljorg Invitational "New Art of the West", 1992

Forman, Joanne. "Faces of Taos", review of Invitational Exhibit, Stables Art Center,
Taos, New Mexico. THE TAOS NEWS, January 20, 1983

Gilbert, Lois. "Denham Clements; Photorealism with Soul", ARTLINES, Feb, 1981

Jett, Dennis. "Art in the Ambassador's Residence" Exhibition catalog,
"Art in Embassies Program", 1996

Klaus, Peggy. "Artist Paints Expanded Realism". THE TAOS NEWS, March 3, 1977

Landis, Ellen. REFLECTIONS OF REALISM Exhibition catalogue,
The Albuquerque Museum, 1979

Landis, Ellen. "Here and Now: 35 Artists in New Mexico" (Exhibition cataloque)
The Albuquerque Museum, 1980

Loniak, Walter. "Heartstoppingly Real" THE SANTA FE REPORTER, January 10, 1980

Mills, James. "Arvada Center Relives 'Cowboys and Indians' West". THE DENVER
POST, August 10, 1980

Pellicone, William. "Fantastic Performances... Photorealists?", ARTSPEAK, New
York, December 24, 1981

Press Release: "Ellen Landis; Here and Now", ARTLINES, December, 1980

Press Release: "Realist Art Exhibit at Albuquerque Museum", ARTISTS OF THE
ROCKIES & THE GOLDEN WEST, Winter, 1980

Press Release: "Top of the Line: Denham Clements", ARTLINES, January, 1981

Preview: "Gallery 10 Features Western Realists", THE ASPEN TIMES, March 3, 1983

Preview: "Photorealistic Art to be Featured at Gallery 10", THE SNOWMASS SUN,
March 4, 1983

Preview: "At the Galleries", THE ASPEN TIMES, February 23, 1984

Preview: "Western Realists Exhibit Set", ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Feb 24, 1984

Preview: "At the Joanne Gallery", ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Art Page, Feb 28, 1984

Preview: "At the Joanne Lyon Gallery, Aspen", THE BOULDER CAMERA,
August 23, 1985

Preview: "The Art of Albuquerque: Study in Diversity", supplement to
ALBUQUERQUE MONTHLY magazine, April, 1990

Price, Max. Preview of "Photorealism 1985", DENVER POST, August 16, 1985

Pulkka, Wesley. "Cultures in Collision", review of the rehanging of the permanent
collection at the Albuquerque Museum,
THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, March 12, 1995

Pulkka, Wesley. "Magnifico! Portrait", review of Albuquerque Festival of Arts
exhibition, THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, May 18, 1997

Raether, Keith. "Museum of Albuquerque Opens Realism Show". Albuquerque
Journal, October 24, 1979

Review: "Here and Now" at the Albuquerque Museum. ARTSPACE, December, 1980

Review: "Eight From New Mexico" at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
SAN FRANCISCO TRIBUNE, March 10, 1981

Review: "Living Portraits at the P, M & Stein Gallery", NEW YORK GUIDE, thru
December 20, 1981

Scherch, Meg. "Taos' Best". Review of the 11th Annual "Taos Invites Taos" exhibit,
TAOS NEWS, October 10, 1985

Wilson, Wendy. "A Review of the Season's Opening Exhibit, S. Rudy Gallery,
Santa Fe", SANTA FE REPORTER, May 22, 1981

Winston, Steve. "More Alive Now (a Profile on the Artist's Past)", THE TAOS NEWS,
February 3, 1983

Back