About
Clark Ellithorpe
“I begin where all pictorial form begins, with the point that sets itself in motion.”
Paul Klee
Clark Ellithorpe received his MFA degree at N.I.U. in 1980. Prior to that he was a research biologist at Morton Salt Company, after getting his Bachelor’s degree at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Since that time he has been producing artwork which often reflects his early education as a biologist.
Clark joined Space 900 Cooperative Gallery in Chicago, and later in Evanston, Illinois, after graduate school. He has been a member for 38 years.
Clark Ellithorpe’s work has been shown in numerous exhibitions, including: Illinois State Invitational and Illinois State Fair, Rockford and Vicinity Show, Wustum Museum in Racine, Wisconsin, Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Perimeter Gallery in Chicago, Mars Gallery, Chicago, Zephyr Gallery in Louisville, Ky., David Adler Cultural center in Libertyville, Illinois, Fermilab Gallery, Batavia, Illinois, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, Oakton Community College, DesPlaines, Illinois, and Daley College, Chicago.
“Clark Ellithorpe creates abstract paintings with soft floating shapes that interact by placement, space and at times line. They have a dream-like quality with their soft and elegant color relationships, organic forms, and often scribbled lines. These works elicit emotional response simply because they seem to come so directly from the artist's process, as if he just allows his hand to take over and create. We can almost feel his placing one shape down, and then responding to that shape with another gesture. The works seem to come from a deep subconscious state, and yet allow the viewer to be a witness.”
Beth Shadur, artist