Kathy Clem

I am a multidisciplinary artist.

My journey has spanned almost five decades, exploring painting, digital painting, photography, collage, sculpture, and video. This creative path began at Eastman Kodak, where the worlds of chemistry and innovation intertwined. From 1971 to 1977, work in the lab was balanced with night classes, resulting in a BS in Chemistry in 1977 and a transfer from the analytical Labs to the research labs at Kodak. This led to a significant patent in the solar energy field called “Conductive Elements for Photovoltaic Cells.” Yet, the call for art grew more substantial, and in 1979, the decision was made to leave Kodak and follow a passion for art. This path led to an MFA in painting from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1988. A year ago, classes in Museum Studies at the Harvard Extension School blended the precision of science with the freedom of artistic expression and community involvement.

Artistic work has been displayed in various venues in Rochester and NY State, including the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Genesee Center for the Arts, Pyramid Art Center, The Multimedia Gallery in NYC, The Shirley Fitterman Gallery in NYC, and Artist Space in NYC. Each exhibition has been an opportunity to explore and share new ideas, turning spaces into places of wonder.

 In 2012, a chance to expand my studio space in the Anderson Arts Building in Rochester, NY, brought a new dimension to the creative process. A room initially meant for storage was transformed into an experimental gallery with fresh walls and vibrant paint. Sitting right next to my studio, this gallery was a haven for innovation, where multimedia installations were born and brought to life. This November 2024, I moved my Studio/Gallery to my Kathy Clem Museo de Arte at 3495 Winton Place, Building D, Suite 1— Rochester, NY 14623, with plenty more room to accommodate my larger work.

 Central to this artistic journey is my unique alphabet inspired by the twenty essential amino acids that are the building blocks of life. This concept, influenced by the pioneering work of Dr. Margaret Oakley Dayhoff, first came to life in 1990 through a fractal program and an Amiga Computer. Creations such as “Morphic Mind Fields” and “A Future Language” emerged. And in the alphabet, each letter tells a different story: “A is for Art,” “F is for Fantasy,” “M is for Mother,” “P is for Places,” “G is for Gourmet,” “W is for Word Painting,” and “K is for Kathy’s gardens.”

These installations are not just visual art; they are immersive experiences, often paired with films and animations that bring each letter’s theme into full view. They reflect a personal narrative, an exploration of self through the lens of creativity and discovery. As this alphabet grows, it becomes a living autobiography, a testament to a life dedicated to exploring art, science, and the boundless joy of creation.

Please scroll back up and click on the Main Menu to see the rest of my work: Completed Projects, Current Projects, Future Projects, Archives, Contact.