Charles Clement papers
Charles Clement and his wife, Louise Edmea. The Clements moved to Tucson in 1950 and built their own home in the Tucson Mountains in 1952. Over the next three decades, Clement established himself as a successful freelance artist, installing murals, mosaics, ceramics, architectural sculptures, paintings and metal work at businesses, government buildings, schools and private homes. Edmea was Clement's close collaborator in the development and production of this work.
Collection dates: 1944 to 1981
This collection contains photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings and ephemera documenting the life and artwork of Charles Alfred Clement. The collection spans the years 1944 to 1981. Photos depict Clement’s artwork and Clement’s life and family. Folder titles refer to either a particular artwork installation that Clement worked on (i.e. Jewish Community Center), to categories of artworks that Clement worked on (i.e. Textiles), or to categories from Clement’s life (i.e. Correspondence). The collection is organized chronologically with the exception of undated records which are organized alphabetically.
Charles Alfred Clement was born in New York City on August 15, 1921, the son of French parents. Clement studied industrial and general design and illustration at Franklin School of Professional Arts in New York City. In 1944, he opened his own studio for design and illustration after working on murals and children’s book illustrations previously. Clement and his wife, Louise Edmea, moved to Tucson in 1950 and built their own home in the Tucson Mountains in 1952. Over the next three decades, Clement established himself as a successful freelance artist, installing murals, mosaics, ceramics, architectural sculptures, paintings and metal work at businesses, governmental buildings, schools and private homes. Clement’s artistic style was representative of the modern art movement of mid-century America, often manifested in three-dimensional ornamentation. Depictions of flora and fauna were common in his murals and mosaics. Clement passed away in 1981 while on a trip abroad. His final work was a memorial in the Jewish Quarter of Tucson’s Evergreen Cemetery.
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