Bonfoey Gallery Presents Laurence Channing: Then and Now

*Laurence Channing, Untitled, oil on Yupo paper, 9.5 X 9.5 inches, circa 2020.*

For over three decades, Laurence Channing has transformed Cleveland’s streets, bridges, and industrial architecture into compelling works of art. This fall, the Bonfoey Gallery presents Laurence Channing: Then and Now, a retrospective exhibition spanning the 1990s to the present. Alongside earlier works, the exhibition debuts an entirely new series of charcoal drawings created exclusively for this exhibition.

Laurence Channing’s drawings capture the heart of Cleveland with remarkable technical precision. Taking inspiration from architecture and infrastructure that define Northeast Ohio, his work has earned widespread recognition for revealing the beauty, character, and enduring presence of the places that shape the city. His subjects are seldom the places found on postcards; instead, he turns his attention to the roads we travel every day, the storefronts that have weathered decades of change, and the overlooked corners that define Cleveland as much as its celebrated landmarks.

Although inspired by specific locations, the drawings rarely feel tied to a single place or moment. His distinctive handling of charcoal allows forms to emerge with remarkable clarity before fading into softened passages, creating images suspended between reality and memory. For many viewers, his drawings evoke the feeling of a place remembered, recalling not only the city itself, but the experience of growing up here, traveling its streets, and carrying those places with us long after we’ve left them behind.

On view from November 6 through January 8, Laurence Channing: Then and Now brings together works spanning over thirty years of Channing’s career, including drawings that established his reputation, alongside a new body of work presented to the public for the first time. Together, these works reflect an artist whose dedication to his craft and fascination with Cleveland’s architectural character have remained central to his practice.

Laurence Channing received both his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees from Yale University. He held positions at several prominent museums before serving as director of publications at the Cleveland Museum of Art from 1985 to 2009. His work has been exhibited extensively throughout Ohio and beyond, and is represented in numerous public and private collections. Channing received the Cleveland Arts Prize in 2000, multiple Ohio Arts Council Fellowships, and a Creative Workforce Fellowship from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Join us in celebrating Laurence Channing’s remarkable career at our opening reception, from 5 to 7 pm Friday, November 6. Admission is free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.