Hera Gallery

By Hera - October 15, 2019

#MeettheartistsofInGodWeTrust

Meet Tyrus Clutter

"My desire is to have the interaction of text and image work on a viewer even after an initial viewing."

Tell us your artist story, some biographical info, when did you decide to be an artist? Why do you make art? Where did you study? Etc.

I started taking art courses while in high school, and although I was an excellent overall student, I soon realized that creating art was my passion. I went on to study art in college (BA from Spring Arbor University) and then grad school (MFA in painting from Bowling Green State University). I started working as a gallery assistant at BGSU at the same time that I was taking my first printmaking courses. I was tasked with creating a database of the BGSU art collection which is mostly prints. I was soon hooked on the processes of printmaking and have spilt my work between painting and printmaking ever since.

What do you want people to walk away with after experiencing your work?

Since most of my work incorporates text or is literally “drawn” with text, I expect a certain amount of viewer interaction. Viewers tend to read the discernible passages of text, but I want them to question why that text has formed that particular image. How do they interrelate? My desire is to have the interaction of text and image work on a viewer even after an initial viewing.

What influences your work? Why?
Authors often influence the texts that I choose for my work. That often influences the imagery that I use, too. I seek out certain texts, but sometimes when I am reading a book for a specific subject interest, a phrase will open up an unexpected concept that fuels a new series.

What does it mean to you to participate in Hera, either as an artist member OR as an exhibiting artist?

I appreciate the breadth of work that Hera is willing to explore. When I go to a gallery over and over I like to be challenged by something that I did not expect to find. It is in those moments of discovery that viewers can have some of the most meaningful interactions with art.