Henry Ray Clark

Born in Bartlett, in Williamson County, Texas in 1936, Henry Ray Clark moved to Houston’s Third Ward when he was 12. After completing the 6th grade, Clark dropped out of school and held a number of jobs. But he found street life more appealing, and settled into a lifestyle of gambling and drug dealing. He became known on the streets as “The Magnificent Pretty Boy.” His first criminal conviction came in 1977 for attempted murder over a gambling dispute. In prison he made his first drawings. Using pens and pencils on manila envelopes, prison forms, or the backs of letters, Clark began to draw intricate geometric designs that include extraterrestrial themes and often allude to the unknown powers of the universe. His work was first shown in the 1989 Texas Department of Corrections inmate art exhibition. Since then his work has been collected widely and has appeared in numerous museum exhibitions. Through his art Clark transported himself to distant and exotic places designed for his own reflection. He once stated, “I have my own private galaxy out there, and it has nothing to do with you-all’s world. . . . As long as my mind can create something beautiful to look at, I am a free man, and I will live forever in my art.” Clark, who enjoyed freedom during the final years of his life, died in August 2006 in a Houston hospital after being shot by intruders who invaded his home.