"San Diego series 73" Painting

Dayton Claudio is an accomplished public and studio artist whose practice investigates the underlying, structural systems of the natural world. His work centers on "clay-formed canvases," a highly specialized workflow that merges imagery with physical topography. Claudio received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying directly under seminal Light and Space and Minimalist mentors James Turrell and John McCracken, before earning his MFA from San Jose State University.
Deeply inspired by Turrell's philosophy of spatial perception, Claudio uses changing ambient light not merely to illuminate his artwork, but as the active subject itself. This process of technical mediation begins by manipulating the primordial, fluid properties of wet clay to record the raw rhythms of nature. Collaborating with industrial manufacturers, Claudio casts these tactile molds into rigid composite resin panels engineered for permanence. By overlaying these topographies with paint, he creates a visual paradox where physical shadows blend seamlessly with painted illusions. Since launching his public art career in 1995, Claudio has executed 23 public art commissions across 12 states. Notable installations include the iconic Salem Street Art Walls in Chico, California, the flowing landscape of River Valley at Sutter Hospital in Sacramento, California and the 20 foot high River Trace work at Cleveland State University in Ohio. His installations fundamentally challenge how viewers in public and private spaces perceive depth, surface, and light.