The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
Chad Collofello
Adjunct Professor, Ohio University, MFA, MAA Ohio UniversityChaddock + Morrow School of Fine ArtBio
As an exhibiting artist, I have presented solo shows that explore themes of memory, interconnectivity, and the human ecology, blending creative lighting with found objects, painting, sculpture, installation, video, and audio, immersing audiences in environments where patterns emerge, borders are tested, and sounds mirror nature’s vulnerability to human interference.
My drawings, paintings, and installations have been featured in academic and community settings internationally. Plus, I have curated and co-curated numerous group exhibitions featuring regional and emerging artists through the SēD Alternative Gallery & Lab. Additionally, I have contributed to institutional initiatives at the Kennedy Museum of Art, including strategic preparatory work for future exhibitions of its collection. My dedication spans years of creative practice and arts leadership, resulting in vibrant, equitable cultural spaces. My work has been exhibited most recently in gallery exhibitions in Athens, Ohio, Cincinatti, Ohio, and West Chicago, Illinois.
“Chad Robert Collofello’s path is shaped by persistence and recalibration, but more than anything, it reflects a deep commitment to connection—across disciplines, across geographies, and across phases of life. His story reminds us that creative roots don’t just anchor us—they evolve with us, branching out in new directions.” – Kelsey DeGreef for Normal Roots
Artist Statement
My work investigates the connections between humanity and the natural world, focusing on unity and viewer participation to expose the forces that divide us. Grounded in personal experience, I draw from memory, loss, and discovery to create immersive, multi-sensory productions that challenge perception and invite reflection.
My journey of reconnection began with a reunion with my mother, brother, and grandparents after years of separation, which sparked lifelong questions about belonging. A second turning point occurred when I experienced a rapid loss of hearing. As my daughter studied birds, her passion reignited my interest in their calls, which I had once lost amidst urban noise. My eventual use of hearing aids helped me rediscover birdsong, transforming my understanding of sensory perception and ecological responsibility and catalyzing my artistic inquiry.
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.