Charles Clough
Artist
Co Founder Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
About Charles Clough
Charles Clough: A Buffalo Visionary in the Arts
Born on February 2, 1951, in Buffalo, New York, Charles Sidney Clough has spent his career pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. A celebrated painter and creative pioneer, Clough’s work has been exhibited in over 70 solo shows and more than 150 group exhibitions across North America and Europe. Beyond his personal achievements as an artist, Clough played a pivotal role in shaping Buffalo’s contemporary art scene, most notably as a co-founder of the iconic Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center.
Early Life and Education
Clough’s artistic roots formed in the urban landscapes of Buffalo, where he developed an appreciation for the subversive and the experimental. He attended Hutchinson Central Technical High School before pursuing formal art education at major institutions like Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, and University at Buffalo. His exposure to these diverse environments shaped his eclectic approach to art, blending influences from Abstract Expressionists, Surrealists, and other avant-garde traditions.
Founding of Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
One of Clough’s most enduring contributions to Buffalo lies in his co-founding of Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in 1974. Alongside artists Robert Longo and Cindy Sherman, Clough transformed a former ice house into a collaborative space where boundary-pushing artists could experiment, create, and exhibit their work.
Hallwalls became a hotbed for emerging art movements, hosting exhibitions, performance art, and installations from notable artists like Vito Acconci, Chris Burden, Laurie Anderson, and Philip Glass. It was a space where ideas flourished, challenging conventional norms and elevating Buffalo’s standing in the contemporary art world.
The impact of Hallwalls reaches far beyond the city—it became a prominent voice in contemporary art circles nationally, setting the bar for artist-run spaces. Today, the center remains an essential cultural institution, nurturing the next generation of artists and thinkers.
Artistic Practice
Clough’s artistic philosophy is a celebration of paradoxes—uniting opposites like abstraction and realism, flatness and texture, and spontaneity and control. His work often combines painting with photography, collage, and other mixed-media approaches.
One particularly notable innovation is his “big finger” technique, where he uses large, custom tools to create massive finger paintings. This method not only captures the uninhibited spirit of childhood creativity but also invites public participation. Clough has hosted collaborative painting sessions, allowing viewers to contribute their marks to monumental canvases, making art creation a shared experience.
Clough’s art is now held in the permanent collections of over 70 institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, and Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The “Pepfog” Project
Clough’s lifelong artistic endeavor, which he calls “Pepfog,” combines painting, photography, and video to tell the self-described “photographic epic of a painter as a film or ghost.” This deeply personal project reflects his exploration of identity, freedom, creation, and truth. It highlights his belief in capturing art as both a process and outcome, constantly reshuffled and reimagined.
Buffalo’s Influence on Clough
Buffalo’s gritty and dynamic cultural landscape provided Clough with fertile ground to develop his iconoclastic vision. His connection to the region remains strong, and he continues to advocate for accessible art and meaningful community engagement. Recently, he established a studio and the Clufffalo Institute on the historic Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, New York, a stone’s throw from his Buffalo roots. The Institute focuses on promoting collaborative art and exploring creative processes.
Lesser-Known Facts About Charles Clough
- Clough’s early inspiration for Hallwalls stemmed from visiting Toronto’s A-Space, a nonprofit gallery that championed emerging artists.
- The Vogel Collection, one of the most significant private contemporary art collections, includes over 400 of Clough’s works, many of which have been distributed to U.S. museums.
- Clough’s art toys with the idea of authenticity, often mixing painting, photography, and collage to reflect generations of creative influence.
- His innovative murals often rope in community contributors, creating a shared sense of pride and ownership in the final artwork.
Legacy and Influence
Charles Clough’s contributions to art cannot be overstated. He has not only redefined artistic expression through his innovative methods but has also played a key role in fostering Buffalo’s artistic identity. His work at Hallwalls resonates as a call to amplify voices and celebrate creativity, no matter how unconventional.
Buffalo takes pride in claiming Clough as one of its own. He exemplifies the spirit of resilience and ingenuity that the city is known for, proving that even from humble beginnings, art can flourish and inspire. For art enthusiasts, aspiring creators, and local historians, Charles Clough remains a beacon of innovation and collaboration.
Here’s to Charles Clough—a Buffalo original and an enduring force in the world of contemporary art!