Irish-American artist Eugene Clark developed an interest in art as a boy growing up in Northwest Detroit, Mi. With relatives on both sides, immigrating from County Mayo, in Western Ireland, Clark found himself celebrating his rich Irish heritage through painting and drawing. As a young Detroiter, he soon learned of the long legacy of Irish immigrants settling in the city's "Corktown" district. Clark joins this tradition of Irish-American citizens, as a visual artist, interested in developing a dialogue, investigating his identity within the urban landscape of a big city metropolis.

The first time he recalls a career in art as being a real possibility, was when his father entered a terra cotta sculpture he created, into the Youth Arts Competition at the Michigan State Fair. He walked away with a first place ribbon, and never looked back.

By the age of twelve, his work was exhibited at the Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the Detroit Public Schools Student Art Exhibition, under the direction of Loreta Head, Art Teacher, while attending Ludington Magnet Middle School.  His studies at this time also included Saturday art classes, in the education department, at Wayne State University, Detroit, Mi.

At fourteen, Clark became a National Award Winner in the Scholastic Art Competition, for his photography. His black and white photograph depicting a muti-tiered fountain in a natural setting, taken on the grounds of the Cranbrook Gardens, was exhibited in New York City, and purchased by the Eastman Kodak Corporation to be included in their private collection. He went on to receive additional National Recognition for his drawings, paintings, and sculpture. By his senior year of High School, he had two art portfolios selected for National Awards in New York City. One portfolio for drawing, painting, & sculpture, and the other for photography.

Clark received his BFA (1988) in Fine Arts, at the College for Creative Studies, studying with notable artists Russell Keeter (anatomy, painting), Richard Jerzy (watercolor), Jim Poole (printmaking), Jay Holland (sculpture), Lester Johnson (drawing), and Gilda Snowden (painting). He would soon become the recipient of the competitive and prestigious Matilda Wilson Dodge Fellowship. His work at this time was selected for exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts Sales Gallery, The Scarab Club, The Detroit Artists Market, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, and Paint Creek Center for the Arts. 

As a student, Clark was appointed as a teaching assistant in the Printmaking Department at CCS and was commissioned by the Business Consortium for the Arts to create a series of lithographs. He also worked in the capacity of classroom assistant for Russell Keeter. He travelled with Keeter in his last two years of undergrad, providing assistance during figure/anatomy workshops presented at Art Centers and Art Associations throughout Metro Detroit.

Clark received his BFA in Fine Arts from the College for Creative Studies in May 1988. He was awarded a paid teaching position by, his then mentor, Russell Keeter, to teach side by side for all of Keeter's figure/anatomy courses at CCS.  He accepted a one year appointment, gaining valuable experience, which eventually led to his own figure/anatomy course at the college. In addition, Clark assisted Keeter in his personal art studio, stretching and priming canvas for the prolific artist. (Keeter died in 1991). Dealing with the loss of his mentor wasn't easy, and fueled the next stage of his artistic study.

Continuing to pursue his interest in printmaking, Clark was accepted into the MFA program at Cranbrook Academy of Art, and studied with artist Steve Murakishi. Here he began to utilize screen printing into his drawings. This led to a strong interest in pursuing drawing as his major. After a productive year at Cranbrook, he transferred to WSU, to take his drawing into a new direction. 

In 1994 Clark received his MFA in Drawing, at Wayne State University, Detroit, Mi., studying with well-known artists John Hegarty (drawing), Stanley Rosenthal (printmaking), Marilyn Zimmerman (photography), and Denis Nawrocki (Art History). He combined other media with his drawings, including photography, found objects, and performance art.

Embarking on performance as part of his artistic repertoire, Clark joined forces with Project Paradigm's Hava Jean Delgado, and Cranbrook Grad David Scott Risner, to create a non-profit art/performance space known as " MASK", located in Hamtramck, Mi. In addition to rotating art exhibitions, poetry readings, and musical concerts, Clark developed his own performance art works, involving collaborations with other artists including Clinton Snider, Nelson Smith, and Mary Potts. During this same time period, he found his work being exhibited at the Willis Gallery, Urban Park Gallery, Michigan Gallery, as well as the Dearborn Arts Council Gallery.

Taking it to the streets, became a quest for the artist, as he proceeded to present a large-scale performance art collaboration on the public sidewalk in front of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where a crowd of hundreds of people attended to witness this "art happening" on the city streets. This work was reviewed in the Detroit Metro Times newspaper. He didn't stop there. Through creative fundraising efforts, Clark was able to take his performance art work on the road traveling and performing at Samuel's Gallery, New York City and Cleveland. Ohio, as part of the Cleveland Performance Art Festival. Two notable works were "3 cents an Inch", and "Response: Layers".

After extensive travels in Europe to countries including England, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungry, Italy, & Greece, the Big Apple was calling to the artist. This led to his moving to NYC (1996), to take up residency in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He immediately began working for an art moving company Anglia with Care, and spent his days driving up and down Manhattan delivering art for museums, galleries, and collectors. Don Puglisi, former Detroiter, and co-worker, combined with Clark to create "ARTSTS ON PAVEMENT", a performance art collaborative. The duo was very prolific and performed works on the street in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Guggenheim Museum Soho, as part of the "NYC Downtown Arts Festival". The team was featured in the Village Voice and Detroit's Hour Magazine for their accomplishments. Other performance initiatives occurred at CB's 313 Gallery, VOID Space, and the Greenwich Village Center Theater, in collaboration with Detroit artist Nelson Smith. In addition to working with "Artists on Pavement", he became the assistant to the director at the 303 Gallery, Chelsea, working closely with established artists including Sue Williams, Doug Aiken, and Karen Kilimnick. This gave Clark a first hand experience of the art world. He eventually had work published in a book by TV Director Chris Carter,"Art of the X Files", by Harper Prism, and exhibited work at the Pat Hearn Gallery, Chelsea, NY.

Although New York provided varied art experiences for the artist, a desire to continue teaching, brought him back to Detroit, Mi. He was re-assigned figure/ anatomy courses at CCS. His passion and drive for teaching was very strong, and it was this determination that spurred his development of an Anatomical Figure Illustration Course along with a Digital Figure Illustration Course at the art college.

Coinciding with his teaching, Clark was selected for exhibition at the Center Galleries, in Detroit's cultural Center. This exhibition provided Clark a chance to create a site specific work for the gallery space. His research for this new work took him on travels to Jamaica, Kenya, and Zanzibar. He integrated new media including video and cassette recorder. The performance /  Installation titled " Eat Right and Think Clean", utilized a large wooden shack, with a live-person hidden performance under the floorboards. A website and computer were custom designed with help of friend/artist Diane Geiger and a web design company "The Collective". Video projection, sound imagery, and puppetry, were integrated in this multi-media work. He shared the gallery space with performance Artist Nelson Smith, who previously collaborated with Clark as part of the Downtown Arts Festival in New York City. The exhibition at Center Galleries was documented on PBS for "Backstage Pass", hosted by Ann Delisi, as well as critically reviewed in the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and the Metro Times. Both Clark and Smith received critical acclaim. In conjunction with the exhibition, both artists were invited to give lectures about their work at Cranbrook Academy of Art, The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, and The College For Creative Studies.

Clark's interest in travel soon led him to parts of the world including Japan, Morocco, Spain, and additional travels through Ireland, England, Holland, France, U.S., & Canada. While traveling he kept detailed journals as well as sketches, watercolor, oil paintings, and video.

Continuing to teach, he accepted positions at Macomb Community College, and Oakland Community College, in addition to his teaching at CCS. This provided a broader, more diverse teaching experience, and allowed him to further develop his teaching style and methods. In addition he was selected as a visiting artist and given residencies at the Dearborn Art Fund's sculpture initiative, and at the International Academy, Bloomfield Hills.

Meeting art educator Diane Heath, became the catalyst for a teaching collaboration that began in her classroom at Stoney Creek High School. She brought Clark in as a visiting artist, enlisting his anatomy drawing skills. Several visits later, a new program was born. The site was Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Mi. The two art advocates piloted a two week college prepatory program called "The Summer Art Intensive", thanks in part to their University liaison Linda Tyson. This program laid the groundwork for future teaching collaborations, to take place at the Starkweather Arts Center, Romeo, Mi. As they each found out, their combination of teaching methods and approach to art-making, created a buzz and the good word spread, providing full enrollment for all courses offered.

The connection made at Oakland University, began a dialogue between Clark, and then Art Department Chair, Andrea Eis. It wasn't long before she added him to the faculty roster. He began teaching anatomy and figure drawing courses as a Lecturer in the Art and Art History Department at OU, and eventually 2D design, painting, illustration, as well as other courses. After 23 years of teaching at CCS he decided to leave and teach exclusively at Oakland University. After his first year, he was promoted to Special Lecturer.

Clark soon published an 80 page full-color hardbound book titled "Eugene Clark / Real Art". This book features artwork over a twenty year span. It includes drawings, paintings, printmaking, installations, and performance art.

As a member of the art faculty at Oakland University, Clark was presented with the opportunity to submit ideas for a large-scale public work, commissioned by Oakland University. After two months of anticipation, he received word that three of his preliminary works were selected by the Dean of the School of Medicine, and the Dean of the School of Nursing. His work was to be produced as large-scale murals, to be installed in the university's newest building, (still under construction), The "Human Health Building". The news was well-received by the artist. It was his largest size work to date, and largest commission monetary award of $40,000.00. He was to embark on a new journey of art making.

Large-scale works require good contracts. Clark knew he needed the assistance of someone who had been through this process before. Detroit Artist Hubert Massey was that person. At that point, Massey had already created over 15 large-scale public works. The two previously met in the early 90's teaching side by side for Wayne State University's art program for gifted and talented students. Clark hired Massey as a consultant for his mural project at OU. Massey's guidance became invaluable, and led to the success of the entire project. He helped Clark with a contract, construction and legal issues pertaining to installation.

Through Massey's recommendation, Clark hired the art installation company ArtPack to install his three 8'x 12' mural paintings inside Oakland University's Human Health Building. As indicated by the university, the paintings will remain on permanent display for 30 years. The paintings are part of a series of work titled "Artis Anatomica", which Clark originally began while in graduate school at Wayne State University in 1994.

The series "Artis Anatomica" focuses on art and science combined. Following the lead of artists like Leonardo DaVinci, Clark integrates imagery of both human and animal anatomy, along with elements from nature and microrganisms, to create abstract expressionist style compositions. Each composition is aesthetically engaging, while experimenting with bold shapes and vivid colors. "Artis" means nature is the teacher of art. Clark expands this notion through his thoughtful use of natural imagery, in an overlapping manor, reflecting his background studying printmaking with artist's James Poole at The College for Creative Studies, and Steve Murakeshi at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Clark's printmaking experience has influenced his approach in each acrylic painting. Transparency of color along with seeing underlying imagery of black and white figures through the natural images laid out on the surface layer, provide a multi-textural window into the artist's thought process. 

While completing the major public art commission for Oakland University, Clark was invited to exhibit his work as a featured artist  in a museum show, by Director B.B. Winslow, of the Dow Art Museum, Midland, Mi. The exhibition  titled "Anatomy of an Idea", Jauary 12- April 21, 2013, featured new acrylic paintings from his  "Artis Anatomica" series. The exhibition along with Clark's work was featured on Scientific American's blog. This exhibition reunited Clark with another featured artist of the exhibition, Sergio DeGuisti. Clark studied figure sculpture under DeGuisti, while pursuing his undergraduate degree at The College For Creative Studies. Another featured artist Amanda Lilleston, connected with Clark's  large acrylic paintings which would soon lead to a future exhibition collaboration.

Clark was contacted by Deborah Greer, Director of the River Gallery, Chelsea, Mi. She invited him to exhibit his work in an exhibition curated by Amanda Lilleston, to take place inside the Rackham Graduate School Building, on the campus of The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi. The title "Biology and Art in Creative Minds", September 26-December 13, 2013, included works of Clark's "Artis Anatomica" series. The exhibition was documented in a full color exhibition catalog, as well as the Chelsea River Galley website, www.chelsearivergallery.com with an exhibition description: "The exhibition showcases the collision of biology and art, creatively demonstrating the translation of science through the artist's lens".

Clark has been invited to Jury art exhibitions at the Anton Art Center, Mt. Clemons, MI. in 2014 & 2016, as well as The Starkweather Art Center, Romeo, MI, in 2015 reviewed in  The Source Newspaper, The Orion Art Center 2012, and The Visual Art Association of Livonia in 2010. He was appointed as lead artist for Dearborn Art Fund's Sculpture Initiative 2010-2015.