David H. Clemons・ Metals
Instructor
David was born in El Paso, Texas and spent much of his life in Austin, Texas. He began his undergraduate career at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, pursuing a degree program for biology art. He attended the program for two years before returning to Austin to complete his BFA at the University of Texas in Austin, with a primary emphasis in painting. He earned his MFA in metalsmithing in 2007 from San Diego State University. David taught in the art department at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Arkansas for 10 years, responsible for creating and heading the Metalsmithing and Jewelry Department for eight years. In 2018 he relocated to Penland, North Carolina to dedicate his time to be an independent artist and workshop instructor.
Much of his work embraces the craft of metalsmithing and it’s collected history of techniques and objects. The resulting works rendered in metal, mixed media, and hand made artist books are vehicles to communicate ideas surrounding identity, narrative, and forays into material and process-based work. He has exhibited in numerous exhibitions including: Craft in America: Expanding Traditions, Different Tempers: Jewelry & Blacksmithing, RE/ACTIONS, and has work in the permanent collection of the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, National Ornamental Metal Museum. Yale Contemporary Craft Museum, Ollie Trout Collection at the University of Texas in Austin.
