Intricate. Intimate. From the heart. The Co presents the reveal of a new project by Zachary Armstrong—an enigmatic force whose work features the ritualistic repetition of symbols and motifs rooted in recollections of his childhood and family, of people and places, of rural Midwest Americana.

For this exhibition, Zachary secretly gathered drawings, paintings, sculptures, and ceramics from his father, George Armstrong’s home—artifacts of a life devoted to creativity and collaboration. These works not only reflect George’s work but also the profound influence he had on his sons, who grew up to become artists in their own right. For The Contemporary Dayton, this exhibition is especially poignant. Zachary created the inaugural exhibition for The Co’s new space in 2021—a site-specific installation inspired by the history and influence of The Co on himself and the artistic landscape of Dayton. We’re honored to present this intimate portrait of a father’s enduring influence and a son’s heartfelt tribute.

George Armstrong has been actively working as an artist and teacher for over 50 years. He received his Bachelor’s and Master of Arts degrees in Art Education from Wright State University, and he taught ceramics at Fairborn High School and Stivers School for the Arts. His ceramics are both sculptural and functional, using heavily textured stoneware and raku clay coupled with metal, wood, and found objects. They are finished with hand-mixed glazes and stains and are fired multiple times. His artwork uses themes from his environment, history, and travels while letting the viewer see, read, and imagine their own perspective of each piece. George lives in Kettering, Ohio with his beloved dog. He designed and built his home and created his own ceramics studio where he spends as much time as possible working on his art.

Zachary Armstrong lives and works in Dayton, Ohio. Recent solo exhibitions include GNYP Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2023); Tilton Gallery, New York, NY (2022, 2018, 2016); Faurschou Foundation, New York, NY/Beijing, China (2022, 2021); and The Contemporary, Dayton, OH (2021); among others.