Chuck Davis
— Bio / CV

Chuck Davis, b. 1954.

Independent curator and photographer based in the Ozarks. A practice in large format film, 3D stereo, and wet plate collodion — kept by hand.

Portrait · Detlef Körtge / epigramstudios

— Biography

Working in the Ozarks, Chuck Davis (he/him/his) is an independent curator and photographer — a visual artist whose work critically observes Ozark history and the adjacent lands once described as Indian Territory. Of Indigenous and European descent, Chuck’s message traverses inter-generational tensions of both new and Native residents.

Chuck Davis (b. 1954) earned a BAFA in History of Photography from the University of New Mexico, and an MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley Art + Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He studied Photojournalism at the University of Missouri, earning a B.A. with Honors. After completing a residency at Casa Ranzini in São Paulo, Brazil in 2019, he was awarded an Arkansas Arts Humanity Grant in 2022 and an Art + Everywhere Grant in 2024.

He received a stipend award in 2021 and his work entered the permanent collection of the Regional Art Museum (RAM) in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In 2025 he exhibited at MASS MoCA while on retreat, and was in residency at Gallery RAG in Gloucester, Massachusetts. His next solo exhibit is at Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville AR, during November and December 2025. He has just been awarded an Arkansas Individual Fellowship grant for Community Arts Engagement.

— Education

BA — Photojournalism, University of Missouri, Columbia

1975

BAFA — History of Photography, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

1982

MFA — Art Institute of Boston / Lesley Art + Design

2019

— Residencies

Casa Ranzini — São Paulo, Brazil

2019

Al Capp's Home — Cambridge, MA

2018 & 2019

MASS MoCA — North Adams, MA · Art + Everywhere Retreat

2025

Gallery RAG — Gloucester, MA

2025

— Exhibition history & arts engagement

2017 — 2026.

By year · selected
2026
  • Small Works On Paper
  • AR Heritage / Arkansas Arts Council — travel exhibition
  • AR Heritage / Arkansas Arts Council — travel exhibition
2025
  • Living Image 2024 / 2025
  • Halide Project, Philadelphia
  • Juror: Adam Finkelston
  • Love Wins
  • Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Laurie Foster
  • Exploring the Inevitable — The Art of Dying
  • Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Laurie Foster
  • Trace Light
  • Gallery RAG, Gloucester MA
  • Curator: Tracy Hayes · with Rocky Neck residency
  • Hand Prints at SPIVA
  • Beshore Gallery, Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin MO
  • Curator: Adam Finkelston · also published in The Hand, Issue 50
  • Ozark Giraffes at Mt. Sequoyah
  • Mt. Sequoyah Hall Gallery, Fayetteville AR
  • Solo exhibition
2024
  • Your Daily Photograph — Keetoowah Elder
  • Photogravure (Artist Proof)
  • Word Play
  • Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Susan Idlet
  • Nexus of Northwest Arkansas
  • Fayetteville Public Library
  • Curator: Susan Idlet
  • Surreality
  • Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Zeek Taylor
2023
  • Art + Everywhere
  • VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge MA — Lesley A+D 20th Anniversary
  • Current Works 2023
  • Albrecht-Kemper Museum, St Joseph MO
  • Juror: Elijah Gowin
  • The Avoidance of Othering — Ozark Giraffes
  • Ozarks Symposium, Missouri State University–West Plains
  • Around Town
  • Local Color Gallery, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Alex Cogbill
2022
  • Paper Routes
  • Fenix Arts — collaboration with Simone Wicca (Brazil)
  • The Wheel
  • Martha Jones Gallery, Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM)
  • Solo · Stipend Grant + Lecture Series
  • PhotoSpiva
  • Spiva Arts Center, Joplin MO
  • Jurors: Eric & Erin Dodson
2021
  • Re-Emergent
  • Mount Sequoyah / Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Laurie Foster
2020
  • Control
  • Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • Curator: Ciara Froning
  • Chaos and Confusion
  • Fenix Arts, Fayetteville AR
  • PhotoSpiva
  • Spiva Arts Center, Joplin MO
  • Juror: April Watson
2019
  • Rewilding the Grid
  • Raizes Gallery, Cambridge MA
  • Collaborations and Conversations
  • PROCESS Zine — The Nexus of Northwest Arkansas
  • Cambridge MA — published
  • PhotoSpiva
  • Spiva Arts Center, Joplin MO
  • Juror's Stipend Award · Patty Carroll
  • Flagship Heritage Biennial
  • VanDernoot Gallery, Cambridge MA
2018
2017
  • In Our Natural State
  • Rogers Experimental House, Rogers AR
  • Two-person show with Dan Snow
— Portfolios
Jack — 1976 (portfolio #1)
Biddy — 1978 (portfolio #2)
Halloween — 1981 (portfolio #3, unique chromogenic prints)
Dogpatch — 2017 (Mail Art on DiBond™)
Nexus of Northwest Arkansas — 2019 (Dye Sublimation on Aluminize™)
— Curation
  • 2018
  • Our Natural State
  • Art Center of the Ozarks, Springdale AR
  • Works by 18 national & international artists — including Alec Soth, Mike Disfarmer, Tim Hursley, Sabine Schmidt.
  • 2019
  • Camouflage & Calamity
  • Cambridge, MA.
  • 2022
  • The Hand at Fenix Arts
  • Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville AR
  • Juried with The Hand Magazine.
— Selected exhibitions
2022
The Wheel
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
2025
Ozark Giraffe at Mount Sequoyah
Creative Center at Mount Sequoyah
— Inquiries

The studio is
open to inquiries.

For prints, exhibitions, or curatorial conversations — write a short note. Replies arrive in a day or two, sometimes longer during a darkroom week.

Email
studio@chuckdavis.art
Studio
By appointment · Ozarks, Arkansas
Bookings & sessions
For commissioned photography & sessions, see arkansasmomentos.com →
— Journal

Field notes & essays from the studio.

Read the journal →

White Rock Spiral

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 16x20 inches
Edition
Edition of 15
Price
$820

White Rock Mountain Recreational Area offers one of the most stunning panoramas in the Natural State of Arkansas. It was a perfect place for in camera light painting at dusk one evening in 2015.

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Trail Trees - Hobbs State Park (4 of 4)

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

“In 2017 I worked closely with the largest state park in Arkansas and with several of its Interpreters. Al Knox had made an inventory of Trail Trees, sometimes called Mystery Trees. Of several understandings, these bound and disfigured trees grow in the direction to a source of water, and Interpreter Knox used his water dowsing skills to prove their significance.

To date, I’m the only photographer to ever make a systematic study of Trail Trees at Hobbs State Park.”

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Collect Now

Trail Trees - Hobbs State Park (3 of 4)

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2017 I worked closely with the largest state park in Arkansas and with several of its Interpreters. Al Knox had made an inventory of Trail Trees, sometimes called Mystery Trees. Of several understandings, these bound and disfigured trees grow in the direction to a source of water, and Interpreter Knox used his water dowsing skills to prove their significance.

To date, I’m the only photographer to ever make a systematic study of Trail Trees at Hobbs State Park.

Inquire
Collect Now

Trail Trees - Hobbs State Park (2 of 4)

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2017 I worked closely with the largest state park in Arkansas and with several of its Interpreters. Al Knox had made an inventory of Trail Trees, sometimes called Mystery Trees. Of several understandings, these bound and disfigured trees grow in the direction to a source of water, and Interpreter Knox used his water dowsing skills to prove their significance.

To date, I’m the only photographer to ever make a systematic study of Trail Trees at Hobbs State Park.

Inquire
Collect Now

Trail Trees - Hobbs State Park (1 of 4)

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2017 I worked closely with the largest state park in Arkansas and with several of its Interpreters. Al Knox had made an inventory of Trail Trees, sometimes called Mystery Trees. Of several understandings, these bound and disfigured trees grow in the direction to a source of water, and Interpreter Knox used his water dowsing skills to prove their significance.

To date, I’m the only photographer to ever make a systematic study of Trail Trees at Hobbs State Park.

Inquire
Collect Now

Mother Road - Stratford, Texas

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

“Travelling Route 66 before Interstates provides me a unique perspective to the Mother Road. I’ve crisscrossed the country on its pavement, stopped at most of its attractions, and lived on the road for several years in downtown Albuquerque near the Kimo Theater. Later, in 2015, Greg Disch and I journeyed with intention to the most colorful and iconic locations. It was fun staying at the Blue Swallow Motel.

A year later, in 2016, I celebrated these images in a solo show in Fayetteville, and in 2021 an image from this series was awarded Best of Show during the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum’s Invitational call for art.”

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Collect Now

Mother Road - Blue Swallow - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 16x20 inches
Edition
Edition of 15
Price
$820

“Travelling Route 66 before Interstates provides me a unique perspective to the Mother Road. I’ve crisscrossed the country on its pavement, stopped at most of its attractions, and lived on the road for several years in downtown Albuquerque near the Kimo Theater. Later, in 2015, Greg Disch and I journeyed with intention to the most colorful and iconic locations. It was fun staying at the Blue Swallow Motel.

A year later, in 2016, I celebrated these images in a solo show in Fayetteville, and in 2021 an image from this series was awarded Best of Show during the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum’s Invitational call for art.”

Inquire
Collect Now

Mother Road - Bug Ranch

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

“Travelling Route 66 before Interstates provides me a unique perspective to the Mother Road. I’ve crisscrossed the country on its pavement, stopped at most of its attractions, and lived on the road for several years in downtown Albuquerque near the Kimo Theater. Later, in 2015, Greg Disch and I journeyed with intention to the most colorful and iconic locations. The Slug Bug Ranch outside of Amarillo is a favorite for me, here rendered like a vintage postcard.

A year later, in 2016, I celebrated these images in a solo show in Fayetteville, and in 2021 an image from this series was awarded Best of Show during the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum’s Invitational call for art.”

Inquire
Collect Now

Espanola - New Mexico

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2015, I traveled through northern and southwestern New Mexico with photographer Cleo Wright and poet Keli Wright. Cleo and I later exhibited our images at the John Blatz Gallery on Bentonville Square, alongside Keli’s poems inspired by our journey. My work was also featured in a juried alumni exhibit at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Espanola, New Mexico has always been an authentic Southwestern community for me, which this image illustrates a brief moment of.

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Chimayo - New Mexico

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2015, I traveled through northern and southwestern New Mexico with photographer Cleo Wright and poet Keli Wright. Cleo and I later exhibited our images at the John Blatz Gallery on Bentonville Square, alongside Keli’s poems inspired by our journey. My work was also featured in a juried alumni exhibit at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Santuario de Chimayo is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States.

Inquire
Collect Now

Bisti - New Mexico - Sunset

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2015, I traveled through northern and southwestern New Mexico with photographer Cleo Wright and poet Keli Wright. Cleo and I later exhibited our images at the John Blatz Gallery on Bentonville Square, alongside Keli’s poems inspired by our journey. My work was also featured in a juried alumni exhibit at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Santuario de Chimayo is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States.

Inquire
Collect Now

Bisti - New Mexico - Cliffs

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

In 2015, I traveled through northern and southwestern New Mexico with photographer Cleo Wright and poet Keli Wright. Cleo and I later exhibited our images at the John Blatz Gallery on Bentonville Square, alongside Keli’s poems inspired by our journey. My work was also featured in a juried alumni exhibit at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

We hiked into the De-Na-Zin Wilderness (Bisti) during two days and one long night, capturing the lunar landscape of this federal reserve within Navajo Nation.

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Bandelier - New Mexico - Black Hands

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 16x20 inches
Edition
Edition of 15
Price
$820

In 2015, I traveled through northern and southwestern New Mexico with photographer Cleo Wright and poet Keli Wright. Cleo and I later exhibited our images at the John Blatz Gallery on Bentonville Square, alongside Keli’s poems inspired by our journey. My work was also featured in a juried alumni exhibit at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Black Hands was captured inside a kiva, accessible only by a wooden ladder.

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Sunflowers

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

For several years I shared a studio on Emma Street in Springdale, Arkansas where annually we would setup for a Flowers in the Studio event. These images are my favorites from this period.

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Chrysanthemum – Color

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

For several years I shared a studio on Emma Street in Springdale, Arkansas where annually we would setup for a Flowers in the Studio event. These images are my favorites from this period.

Inquire
Collect Now

Chrysanthemum – B&W

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 11x14 inches
Edition
Edition of 10
Price
$540

For several years I shared a studio on Emma Street in Springdale, Arkansas where annually we would setup for a Flowers in the Studio event. These images are my favorites from this period.

Inquire
Collect Now

Eureka Springs - Store Front

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 16x20 inches
Edition
Edition of 15
Price
$820

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a favorite destination of mine due to its diverse community and rich history of natural springs. In 2026, I was in there in residency at Dairy Hollow Artist Colony for ten days.

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Eureka Springs - Gable

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 16x20 inches
Edition
Edition of 15
Price
$820

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a favorite destination of mine due to its diverse community and rich history of natural springs. In 2026, I was in there in residency at Dairy Hollow Artist Colony for ten days.

Inquire
Collect Now

Eureka Springs - Ford

Medium
Archival Pigment Print on Red River premium photo paper – matted to 16x20 inches
Edition
Edition of 15
Price
$820

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a favorite destination of mine due to its diverse community and rich history of natural springs. In 2026, I was in there in residency at Dairy Hollow Artist Colony for ten days.

Inquire
Collect Now