Stephen Clarke – Stars, Stripes and Steam

New York is one of the most important cities in the world. Sometimes mistakenly thought of as the capital of the United States, its significance as the centre for America’s cultural and economic power is undeniable.

In the mid-1990s, Stephen Clarke visited this city on two occasions; each visit lasting no more than a week. The photographs that he took during these brief encounters with the city provide a partial insight based on his own experience.

The timing of this exhibition is purposeful: on the eve of the 2024 US election viewers are prompted to speculate on the past and future of the USA.

As the exhibition closes with a talk by Stephen on the evening of Tuesday November 5th, the date of the US Elections, we purposely leave you with an undeclared election result and an unresolved future direction for America.

Somewhat coincidently, the November 5th date also has significance here in the UK.

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Stephen Clarke is Senior Lecturer in Art and Design: Critical and Contextual Studies at the University of Chester. He studied at Newport College of Art, South Wales (BA Fine Art, 1986) and Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton (MA Contemporary Art and Theory, 1996, and MA Fine Art Printmaking, 2004).

The foundation of his artwork is his archive of photographs taken since 1981. He has an interest in New Topographics and documentary photography, as well as photomontage and collage.

His photographs have been published by the independent publishers Café Royal Books, Fistful of Books, and Out of Place Books.