Member's Spotlight Exhibition: Dan Cleary: Five Views of Ohio

Member's Spotlight Exhibition: Dan Cleary: Five Views of Ohio

Dan Cleary: Five Views of Ohio

January 7-31, 2026

Opening Reception: Jan. 7, 6-8 pm

Closing Reception: Jan. 31, 4-6 pm

Bio:

Dan Cleary is a professional and fine art photographer based in Dayton, Ohio, who has been creating images for many years. He has an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and is known for his thoughtful, quietly evocative photographs of Midwestern landscapes and cityscapes. His work often explores the overlap of history, community, and place—whether in his ongoing Ohio Landscape series or in projects that blend archival imagery with contemporary scenes, like his Wright Brothers: Then and Now and Indianapolis 500: Then and Now series. In addition to running Cleary Creative Photography, Dan is also an educator and mentor who teaches students and adults how to see light, create photographs with intention, and use their cameras as tools for genuine personal expression.

Artist Statement:

Over the past years, I’ve traveled across Ohio, capturing images of the places that define where I call home. My Ohio Landscape series is a visual homage to the beauty of Ohio and its surrounding cities and countryside—exploring the fields, rivers, skies, and cities that reveal the quiet rhythm of everyday life. In these five photos from this series, I explore my connection to Ohio through light, water, and motion — from the peaceful surface of a backwater stream to the rush of a downtown river and streetcar. These pictures reflect the everyday paths people take.

Links & Tags

The Contemporary Dayton

Member's Spotlight Exhibition: Dan Cleary: Five Views of Ohio is taking place at The Contemporary Dayton, which is located at 25 W 4th Street in Dayton. The Contemporary Dayton - The Contemporary Dayton is a non-profit gallery and artist resource that provides art for the community and a community for artists. (Formerly Dayton Visual Arts Center / DVAC).