Dennis W. Barraclough (American, 1947-) internationally recognized artist, painter, sculptor, printmaker and teacher primarily known for his works in acrylic on canvas & paper, monotypes, collage and sculpture.

Dennis received a BFA in printmaking at SUNY at Buffalo, NY in 1970 and an MFA in sculpture from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI in 1972. From 1970-72, he was a Teaching Fellow at the University of Michigan. After completing his MFA in 1972, he immediately began his teaching career at Daemen College, Amherst, NY and is presently on the staff at Daemen as a Professor of Art. His instruction includes courses such as Foundation Design and Sculpture, and he currently serves as Gallery Director and the Director of Fine Arts for the Visual & Performing Arts (VPA).

Dennis has exhibited throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and China and recently in Venice, Italy where his work was included in the 2013 Venice Biennale. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections internationally. Exhibits include solo exhibitions at the Members Gallery at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY; Gallery Danielli, Toronto, Ontario; Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, NY and other public and private institutions. Dennis currently maintains his art studio at the Tri-Main building in Buffalo as part of the Buffalo Arts Studio.

Artist Statement:

“Monotype, collage and paint were the techniques utilized for previous works. I started out printing several layers of color on a plate with the etching press, which created a visual stimulus for the work. I responded in a completely intuitive way aesthetically, responding to color or surface, where it may have lead, nothing beyond that. During the process the piece became more complex, thus leading to further investigation. To say anything more than this would seem superficial, this was my process, the way I worked.”

“The paintings and works on paper, 2012-2014 are a further exploration of the paintings I have been working on over the past 5-7 years. The earlier paintings were let’s say literal in nature. The new work is a continuation of that in a purer sense, less metaphor and more direct, more about the day-to-day response to what preceded it.”

Chronology:

1947- Born, June 24, North Tonawanda, NY.

1970-1972- Teaching Fellow, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Dennis received the Horace H. Rackham Block Grant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Exhibited, group shows, Alice Simsar Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI.

1971- Exhibited, group show (Award), “33rd Western New York Exhibition”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

1972-Present- Professor of Art, Daemen College, Amherst, NY. Exhibited, group show, “Graduate Thesis Exhibition”, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

1972-2013- Exhibited, group shows, Art Faculty Exhibits, Daemen College, Amherst, NY.

1974- Exhibited, group juried show, “17th National Jury Show”, Chautauqua, NY. Exhibited, group show, “Salon des Refuses”, Gallery Without Walls, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, three-person show, Alice Simsar Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI. Exhibited, group invitational show, “Invitational Exhibition”, Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, NY.

1975- Exhibited, solo show, Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY. Exhibited, solo show, Gallery Danielli, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Exhibited, group show, “Ball State Drawing and Sculpture Exhibition”, Muncie, IN. Exhibited, group juried show, “18th National Jury Show”, Chautauqua, NY. Exhibited, group show, “35th Western New York Exhibition”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, “39th Annual Mid-Year Show”, Butler Institute, Youngstown, OH. Exhibited, group show, “Faculty Exhibit”, The Members’ Gallery, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, four-person show, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY. Dennis received the Ashford Hollow Sculptural Assistance Grant in cooperation with the New York State Council on the Arts.

1976- Exhibited, group invitational show, “Artists Committee Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, “36th Western New York Exhibition”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, “Charles Penney Collection”, Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, NY. Exhibited, group invitational show, Foreign Institute, Dortmund, Germany.

1977- Exhibited, group invitational show, “Ten Years of Our Best”, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY.

1978- Exhibited, group juried show, “21st National Jury Show”, Chautauqua, NY. Exhibited, group show, “37th Western New York Exhibition”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group invitational show, “Works on Paper”, Artists Committee Gallery, to travel through 1979 (Traveling to Buffalo, NY; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; SUNY at Fredonia, NY; and Erie, PA). Dennis received the Outstanding Alumni Award, Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, NY.

1979- Exhibited, group invitational show, “In Western New York”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, five-person show, Patteran Society of Artists, Jewish Community Center, Buffalo, NY.

1980- Exhibited, solo show, Alamo Gallery, SUNY at Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, Alamo Gallery, SUNY at Buffalo, NY.

1981- Exhibited, three-person show, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY. Exhibited, group show, “24th National Exhibit”, Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY.

1982- Exhibited, solo show, Artists Committee Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, “39th Western New York Show, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

1983- Exhibited, group invitational show, “In Western New York”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

1984- Exhibited, solo show, Members gallery, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, solo show, Carnegie Cultural Center, North Tonawanda, NY.

1985- Exhibited, solo show, Niagara County Community College, Cambria, NY. Exhibited, group show, “Abstraction/Figuration”, Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, group show, “Relative Meaning: The Figure in Context”, Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, Buffalo, NY.

1987- Exhibited, group show, “The Wayward Muse: A Historical Survey of Painting in Buffalo”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

1993- Dennis received the President’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Member, Daemen College, Amherst, NY.

1999- Exhibited, solo show, Big Orbit Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

1998- Exhibited, group invitational show, “Invitational Exhibit”, Monroe County Community College, Rochester, NY.

2001- Exhibited, solo show, Fanette Goldman/Carolyn Greenfield Gallery, Daemen College, Amherst, NY. Dennis received a Sabbatical from Daemen College, Amherst, NY.

2005- Exhibited, group invitational show, “Western New York Art Professors Invitational”, Fineline Gallery, Buffalo, NY.

2009- Exhibited, two-person show, “Mysteries: Dennis Barraclough & Kevin Kegler”, Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.

2011- Exhibited, group show & sale, “Echo Art Fair”, with three other artists represented by Meibohm Fine Arts to include Dennis Barraclough, Joseph Orffeo (1926-2013), Richard Kersting and Agnes Robertson (1911-2001), Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo, NY.

2012- Exhibited, two-person show, Special Winter Feature“Dennis Barraclough: Recent Works & James Vullo (1914-1999): Works in Black & White”, Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.

2013- Exhibited, group show, “55th International Luciano Benneton Collection la Biennale di Venezia: Imago Mundi”, Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice, Italy. Exhibited, group show, Buffalo Arts Studio Annual Artists Exhibit”, Buffalo, NY. Exhibited, groups show, “42.8864º N, 78.8786º W”, an exhibition of work from 10 of Buffalo’s finest artists in a range of media and the exhibit was a result of a cross-city partnership between Distillery 7, in Pittsburgh, and The Buffalo Arts Studio (B.A.S.) for an extensive engagement with four interactions over the six-month period, The Brew House, Space 101 Gallery, Pittsburg, PA.

2014- September 12-October 11, exhibited, solo show, “Dennis Barraclough: Recent Works”, link to exhibition page, Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY.

Awards/Grants: Horace H. Rackham Block Grant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (1970-72); The Menno Alexander Reed Memorial Award for Sculpture, “33rd Western New York Exhibit”, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY (1971); Ashford Hollow Sculptural Assistance Grant in cooperation with the New York State Council on the Arts (1975); Outstanding Alumni Award, Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, NY (1978); President’s Award, Outstanding Faculty Member, Daemen College, Amherst, NY (1993); and Sabbatical from Daemen College, Amherst, NY (2001).

Public & Private Collections: Burchfield-Penney Art Center, ‘Untitled’ 1974, painted steel sculpture, 13-1/2” x 16-1/2” x 8”, The Charles Rand Penney Collection of Western New York Art (1991), Buffalo, NY; Ashford Hollow Foundation, Buffalo, NY; Buffalo Convention Center, Buffalo, NY; Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY; Price-Waterhouse, NYC; Art Planning Consultants, NYC; Huron-Valley Steel Corporation, Belleville, MI; Mr. Charles Penney, Olcott, NY; Ms. Anne Bonte, Buffalo, NY; Ms. Anne Smith, Buffalo, NY; Mr. & Mrs. Peter Siedlecki, Buffalo, NY; Dr. & Mrs. Clay Peimer, Buffalo, NY; Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Kukella, Buffalo, NY; Mr. Christopher Tucker, Lockport, NY; Ms. Grace Meibohm, East Aurora, NY; Ms. Anne Cassidy, Portland, ME; Mr. P. Kozloff, Detroit, MI; Dr. J. Robert Wilson, Ann Arbor, MI; Mr. & Mrs. Carl J. Luterhaus, Ann Arbor, MI; Dr. Edwin Clausen, San Francisco, CA; Dr. Martin Anisman, LaSalla, CA; and Mr. B. Charent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Memberships/Associations: Patteran Society of Artists, Buffalo, NY.

Commissions: Sculptural Commission for the Campus of Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY (1975-76).

For additional information on this artist or for other possible examples of his works, please visit the AskArtlink.

(Written by Mark Strong of Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY 14052, meibohmfinearts.com, sources: Our internal records; Biographical information supplied by the artist; burchfieldpenney.org, Artwork Section of the permanent collection; daemen.edu, brief biographical information; The Wayward Muse: A Historical Survey Of Painting In Buffalo, by Susan Krane, Curator, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, Buffalo, NY, 1987; ancestry.com, “U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2: Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings, Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings”; daemen.edu, Daemen College Voice, online article, “Artwork by Dennis Barraclough Featured in International Exhibition”, Vol. II, Issue 3; daemen.edu, Daemen Connections, “Visual & Performing Arts Professor Dennis Barraclough Artwork Selected for Prominent Company and Exhibit”, Wednesday, March 27, 2013; daemen.edu, News: News Releases, “Daemen Faculty Art Show Opens November 18 In Goldman Greenfield Gallery”, November 4, 2010; daemen.edu, News: News Releases, “The Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Daemen College Presents Daemen College 2013 Visual & Performing Arts Department Faculty Exhibition”, November 14, 2013; hallwalls.org, Visual Arts Program, “Relative Meaning: The Figure in Context” Saturday, February 9, 1985 — Friday, March 22; meetup.com, online article, “Art Exhibit Opening Reception — “42.8864° N, 78.8786° W””, March 23, 2013.)