DAYTON, OH.- The Contemporary Dayton is presenting Dan Cleary: Five Views of Ohio, our latest Member’s Spotlight Exhibition that celebrates the vibrant creativity of our local and regional artist community. The exhibition will be on view through January 31, 2026 in The T. Chase Hale & Jonathan A. Hale Gallery, located in TCD, and will culminate in a closing reception that day from 4-6 pm. The exhibition features five photographs from Cleary’s ongoing Ohio Landscape series, offering a quietly evocative meditation on place, memory, and the everyday paths that shape life across the state.
Based in Dayton, Dan Cleary is a professional and fine art photographer known for his thoughtful images of Midwestern landscapes and cityscapes. His work explores the intersection of history, community, and place, often capturing moments where the familiar becomes newly seen. In Five Views of Ohio, Cleary turns his lens toward rivers, streets, and transitional spaces, tracing connections between natural and urban environments through light, water, and motion. In this series, he explores Ohio’s landscapes and cityscapes, revealing what he describes as “something sacred in everyday moments.”
Cleary holds an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI, and has spent many years developing a photographic practice rooted in observation and intentional seeing. Alongside his fine art work, he has created projects that merge archival imagery with contemporary photography, including Wright Brothers: Then and Now and Indianapolis 500: Then and Now. He also runs Cleary Creative Photography and is an educator and mentor, teaching students and adults to use photography as a tool for personal expression.
All artworks in the exhibition are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the artist and TCD’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.
Open to all current artist members, the Member’s Spotlight Exhibitions are an ongoing series that offers participants the unique opportunity to present a focused body of work in a solo exhibition. Each exhibition is installed in The T. Chase Hale & Jonathan A. Hale Gallery and remains on view for one month, opening with a public reception on the first Wednesday and continuing through the last Saturday of the month. These exhibitions not only highlight the diverse practices and perspectives of our members but also provide a professional platform for artists to gain visibility and engage directly with audiences. All artworks are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the artist and TCD’s mission to advance equity, diversity, and access through contemporary art. Participation in the Member’s Spotlight series is one of the many valuable benefits of being an artist member of TCD.
