Charles Clary
Charles Clary (he/him) was born in 1980 in Morristown, Tennessee. He received his BFA in Painting with honors from Middle Tennessee State University and his MFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Clary has exhibited internationally, nationally, and regionally, with shows at Galerie Evolution-Pierre Cardin in Paris, France; the Netherlands’ CODA Museum Paper Biennial in 2021; the Shanghai Paper Biennial in 2021; and the Art on Paper Fair in New York City. His work has been featured in numerous juried, group, solo, and museum exhibitions.
Among his accolades, Clary won the Top Prize at the 2016 ArtFields Competition in Lake City, SC, and in 2019, he won both the People’s Choice Award for 2D and the Merit Prize at ArtFields. In 2022, he was honored as the HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar at Coastal Carolina University, the highest award bestowed upon a faculty member by the university. In 2024, he was selected as the South Carolina State Fellow for the prestigious Southern Art Prize.
His work has been featured in publications and interviews, including Create! Magazine, Candyfloss, This is Colossal, WIRED Magazine (US & UK), Hi-Fructose, Beautiful Decay, and Bluecanvas Magazine. Additionally, Clary’s art has been highlighted in books such as 500 Paper Objects, Paper Works, Paper Art, Papercraft 2, and PUSH: Paper.
Clary has exhibited extensively in solo and group shows and is represented by Paradigm Gallery + Studio in Philadelphia and R02 Gallery in Dallas, Texas. He currently lives and works in Conway, South Carolina, where he is an Associate Professor of Studio Art and Foundations Coordinator at Coastal Carolina University.
Artist Statement
"Text-I-Monials" is a series that explores colorful patterning and pithy phrases through the delicate process of hand-cut paper, engaging with the rich history of hand lettering. The process of hand-cut and layered paper sculptures adds both literal and metaphorical depth to everyday exclamations and tongue-in-cheek comebacks.
Pulling from classic Southern charm and universal expressions of discovery and dismay, "Text-I-Monials" is a playful yet poignant excavation of Southern vernacular. What began as a random departure into typography has evolved into a revelation on the currency of language—easily dispersed, yet carrying lightness and value in every interaction.
Charlesclary.com
