Clark Derbes

Clark Derbes is an artist based in Burlington, Vermont. Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University in 2002. His work has been exhibited in galleries and group exhibitions in eleven states, and he has completed fifteen public murals in Louisiana and Vermont, working both independently and in collaboration with other artists.

Derbes creates polychromed wooden sculptures that explore perception, materiality, and form. Carved from solid blocks of wood—including elm, poplar, and maple—the works are developed through an intensive process of cutting, carving, sanding, painting, and burnishing. He employs layered geometric structures, pattern, and shifts in scale to challenge spatial perception and create optical complexity. His use of color ranges from saturated hues to restrained neutrals, reinforcing the tension between physical mass and visual illusion. 

Alongside his studio practice, Derbes has explored alternative ways of sharing his work. While living in rural Vermont, he built an “art farm stand” at the end of his driveway, using it as an informal exhibition space for work across multiple styles and media. Though the project has concluded, it reflects his ongoing interest in experimentation and accessibility.