Life & Work with Chad Robert Collofello of Downtown Athens, Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Robert Collofello.

Hi Chad Robert, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, I knew I was artistic and pretty capable compared to other students my age. Unfortunately, I didn’t think it mattered. While I enjoyed it and there were moments of recognition that I can recall, there was no real encouragement. In fact, until my senior year in high school, I don’t remember anyone taking the time to try to teach me anything. My art teacher took notice and pushed me to do better. I never really looked twice at something I had done until then. She made me consider what was working with a piece and what needed more attention, beginning my first dialogue with my artwork.

I was fortunate to find mentors in college who taught me even more about how to see and how to continue that dialogue while introducing a concept into the work. Coming from a factory worker’s family, I still never thought art could be a career, even if I wished it could be. My personal life got in the way of my education, and like many people, I worked full-time almost the entire time I was in school. While I continued to create and even teach art part-time for many years, I still spent many years performing my non-art, non-creative management job. I took a leap and went for a master’s degree, ended up in a dual-degree program, and earned a master of Fine Arts degree and a Master of Arts Administration. This helped me understand the business of art, access to museums and galleries in the art world, the struggles of running non-profits and social-impact entrepreneurship, and how to support artists, as well as myself. Through years of working in and around the art world and building a network that crosses departments and silos most people don’t experience, I have realized we are all stronger together, and we succeed by bringing each other along rather than leaving people behind.

I have since founded and developed SēD (SEED) Gallery & Lab as a self-funded placemaking and experiential learning project that served as a bridge between local artists and their communities. The project grew into a social enterprise, and the space moved from an unknown initiative to a well-recognized and respected hub for creativity and community in rural Ohio. The Gallery has completed its mission and has become a self-sustainable community art hub, and I have handed off my position to a new administrator to create their legacy. I have been transitioning the previous brick-and-mortar model to a virtual one to expand reach and media opportunities, to continue supporting artists and creative leaders. I am also an exhibiting artist and an adjunct professor at Ohio University, teaching art foundations.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I had a rough childhood and dealt with a lot of lost relationships and physical pain. I thought I had to sacrifice my ambitions for family and security. I’ve made many mistakes and false starts. My regrets are only not trying and saying “no” to opportunities that came my way. The shift in my life came at great costs, starting over completely and taking chances on myself that are extremely high risk. I have learned that there is no real security in today’s world, you can struggle doing something you hate. I haven’t reached the goals I have set for my self yet. But, I learned to say “yes”, I have always worked hard, and I have compiled skills, knowledge, and abilities that make me a highly capable artists, teacher, and arts administrator. If I am going to struggle it is going to be for something I love and find meaning in. I want to pass on that legacy to my family, to never give up on your dreams.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work investigates the connections between humanity and the natural world, challenging perception and inviting reflection on our role in the human ecology.

I work across multiple media, including painting, sculpture, and interactive sound, to create layered experiences that engage audiences. Throughout my exhibitions, I use found objects and adaptive lighting to emphasize interconnectedness.

Sustainability and environmental awareness are central to my practice. By repurposing materials and exploring contrasts between artificial and organic forms, I raise questions about memory, relationships, and our role in human ecology. My work encourages viewers to pause and reconsider their surroundings, inviting them to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the ecosystem. I believe that through art and curiosity, transformation is possible.

My personal experience is unique, but that is what makes us all unique, and it is that special individuality that you bring to a project that sets you apart from others. The key is to tap into your experiences and let them influence what you do, without closing your mind to the experiences of those around you. This is special, but it only takes time and practice.

Any big plans?
My plans for the future center around teaching, collaboration, and revitalization of communities and natural habitats. I have been making connections around the world, seeking out collaborators, partners, and experts to bring my next projects into the realm of possibility. Plus, I am seeking a full-time professorship in a fitting home that shares my values, work ethic, and ambition. I have found personal connections to several institutions with a similar vision, but to find a program that shares my interests in art and ecology would be really special!

I will also continue exhibiting my work and taking part in an episode of the “Studio Break” podcast with David Linneweh this summer. David is an Illinois State alumnus and has created the podcast for and about artists since 2011, and has over 340 episodes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chadrobertfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collofellofineart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collofellofineart
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chad-collofello
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chadcollofello7853