Curt Clonts

Curt Clonts was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1959. As a boy in the 1960’s Curt lived across the street from the Wichita Art Association. He often rifled through the trash cans there looking for drawings thrown away by the Association’s head artist, William Dickerson. During these same years he took weekly art lessons from Regionalist Painter Maleta Forsberg who lived just down the street. Under her tutelage he learned to love making art. Curt went on to study art under Wichita Painters Annie Lowry and Don Weddle. He also studied art under nationally known painter James “Jim” Gross, and they remain friends today. Curt spent 8 years in the U.S. Marines. He began selling his art in New Orleans, LA in 1982.

After having lived in Southern California, Okinawa, Japan, New Orleans, Dallas, and El Paso, Curt returned to Wichita, Kansas in 1991. He opened a studio and gallery space on East Douglas (with artist Marc Bosworth) called The Tractor Factory in the mid ‘90’s and enjoyed the fast-growing Wichita art scene during that time. Shortly after he became a member of The Famous Dead Artists Co-Op. He later formed another art co-op called The Ginger Rabbits. He was the Artist-in-Residence at Friends University for seven years. Curt’s most recent solo exhibitions were at The Birger Sandzen Gallery in Lindsborg, Kansas, and the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in KCMO. He shows his work regularly at Reuben Saunders Gallery in Wichita.

When Curt isn’t working in his College Hill studio he is usually spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids. He also spends the spring and summer months kayaking and camping.

He collects art, has coffee or whiskey with friends, dislikes politicians, and hates his telephone.

An Artist's Perspective airs on alternate Fridays.