NEW LONDON, CONN.- For the past fifteen years, photographer and architectural designer G. Roger Clements has been documenting the buildings and urban spaces of New London. A new exhibition at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum presents a selection of his photographs alongside three-dimensional maquettes, offering a compelling visual record of the city’s architectural character, history, and ongoing transformation. The exhibition is on view Feb. 7 through Apr. 12, 2026.
Working with 35mm, medium-format, and large-format cameras and film, Clements develops his photographs by hand in his New London studio and darkroom. His images reveal careful attention to composition, light, and structure, capturing geometric forms, dramatic contrasts of shadow, and richly textured surfaces. Doors, windows, and other architectural details often become focal points, emphasizing how buildings change over time and how they shape the experience of public space.
In addition to photographs, the exhibition includes several of Clement’s 3-D maquettes, which recreate and imaginatively re-envision historic facades. These sculptural works bring architectural details into physical form, adding depth and playfulness to the exhibition while underscoring the artist’s background in building design.
Clements’ works also reflect a strong commitment to historic preservation and documentation. In collaboration with New London Landmarks, he has photographed numerous local buildings threatened with demolition. His images have contributed to the Federal HABS/HAER survey program, a national effort to preserve data and visual records of historically significant structures across the United Sates.
Over a wide-ranging career, G. Roger Clements has balanced architectural design and photography for more than four decades. He has operated a building design and drafting business for 40 years, dividing his time between Fairfield County and New London, where he lives and maintains his photography studio. His work has been exhibited in New York, Boston, Westport, and Old Lyme, Connecticut.
This exhibition invites viewers to see familiar streets and buildings with fresh eyes, while reflecting on the cultural, social, and historical importance of New London’s built environment.
