Born in Rochester, New York, in 1957, Stu Chait is a lifelong artist whose work is deeply influenced by his background in architecture. His great-grandfather, architect Charles W. Eldridge, instilled in him an appreciation for the integral relationship between art, architecture, structure, and form. While pursuing his architectural degree, Stu continued to develop his skills in drawing, pastel, and watercolor.
In 1979, Stu graduated with High Honors from the School of Architecture at the University of Tennessee and returned to Rochester with his wife, Cindy. As he established his award-winning architectural practice, his desire to return to fine art continued to grow. Studies with noted art instructor Gail Kellogg renewed his passion for watercolor, while further study in color theory with well respected artist and color theorist Kathryn Bevier expanded his understanding of color and its expressive possibilities.
An opportunity to study with internationally renowned abstract artist Steve Carpenter became a significant turning point in Stu's artistic development, challenging him to explore unfamiliar subject matter, techniques, and applications. These explorations continue to shape his work today. Inspired by the structure and organic forms found in both architecture and nature, Stu pushes the traditional boundaries of watercolor, creating abstract compositions that explore color, movement, texture, transparency, and form.
Stu's work has been exhibited extensively in area and regional exhibitions and has received numerous awards and honors. His work has been accepted into the online galleries of the internationally recognized Architectural Record and has been featured in national painting journals. In 2011, he was named a Finalist in the Abstract/Experimental Category of The Artist's Magazine 28th Annual Art Competition. In 2012, he was accepted into the Arena Art Group, a leading organization representing abstract and contemporary artists in Upstate New York.
Stu's distinctive approach to watercolor has also led to opportunities in arts education. He was selected as the first adjunct studio faculty member of the new Architecture Program at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he shared his expertise in watercolor and its relationship to architectural design. He has also taught watercolor seminars to artists and architects and has most recently taught at the Chautauqua Institution.
In 2014, Stu was juried into Starry Nights Artists to Look Out For, Volume 1. Beginning that same year, and for seven consecutive years, he was selected for the Oklahoma City Pre-Qualified Artist Pool for Public Art. In 2024, he was juried in as a Signature Member of the Rochester Art Club, one of the oldest art organizations in the United States.
Since 2019, Stu has also been a member of the highly respected faculty at the Mill Art Center in Honeoye Falls, New York, where he continues to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for watercolor and abstract art.
Stu's paintings are held in private collections throughout the United States and internationally. His work is represented on a non-exclusive basis by DAC Hospitality in Atlanta and Kalisher in Durham, North Carolina.
About the Work
At the heart of Stu Chait's work is an ongoing exploration of the relationship between structure and spontaneity. His architectural background gives him a natural sensitivity to proportion, space, rhythm, and form, while his approach to watercolor allows those elements to evolve organically. Rather than simply depicting what he sees, Stu uses watercolor as a means of discovery—layering, manipulating, and challenging the medium to create works that are at once structured and unpredictable.
Selected Competitions |
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| The Abstract National Exhibition, Mark Arts, Wichita, KS. | 2026 |
| 45th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, The View Center for Arts and Culture, Old Forge, NY | 2026 |
| National Juried Exhibition, The Arts Center of Yates County, Penn Yan, NY | 2024 |
| 42nd Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, The View Center for Arts and Culture, Old Forge, NY | 2023 |
| International Shades of Green Competition, Camelback Gallery Scottsdale, Az. Finalist Award | 2023 |
| Oklahoma City Pre-qualified Artists Pool Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (each noted separate awards) |
2014, 15, 16, 2017-20 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center Buffet Cancer Center (Shortlist), Omaha, NE | 2015 |
| Exelon/Constellation – Baltimore Headquarters (Shortlist), Baltimore, MA | 2015 |
| Oklahoma City Pre-qualified Artists Pool Oklahoma City, OK | 2014-15 |
| 3rd Annual Juried Members Exhibition: The Arts and Cultural Council Gallery, Rochester | 2013 |
| Art Roc NY 2013 Showcase JGK Galleries | 2013 |
| Miami Watercolor Society Annual Competition Miami, FL | 2012 |
| Annual Abstract Competition My Art Contest | 2012 |
| We Are One Bridge Gallery University of Rochester | 2011 |
| 1st Annual Juried Summer Exhibition | 2011 |
| Arts and Cultural Center Gallery Rochester | 2011 |
| The Artist's Magazine 28th Annual Art Competition | 2011 |
| Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters Annual Show | 2008-09 |
| Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters Under Open Skies Exhibition, Genesee Country Village Museum John L. Wehle Gallery | 2008 |
Selected Solo Exhibitions |
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| Large Works, Union Place Coffee Roasters, Rochester, NY | 2026 |
| Large Works, Faircraft Brau Haus, Fairport, NY | 2024-25 |
| Canvas Impressions, The Little Cafe Rochester, NY | 2024 |
| Sans Brushes, Nu Movement Studio Rochester, NY | 2023 |
| Of Gatherings and Asterisms Etched in Stone Geisel Gallery Legacy Tower Rochester, NY |
2018 |
| Americana Winery, Interlaken, NY | 2014 |
| Bausch + Lomb Global Optics Center, Rochester, NY | 2013-14 |
| First Federal Open House, First Federal Plaza, Rochester, NY | 2013 |
| A Seasonal Consideration, Red Tail Ridge Winery, Penn Yan, NY | 2013 |
| Vis Exemplum, Nature's Patterns, Arts Council For Wyoming County, Perry, NY | 2012 |
| Triptychs - Evolving Acts and Gestures Black Radish Studio | 2012 |
| Journeys on Canvas, A Discovery of Freedom Chait Fine Art Gallery | 2011 |
| Structural Spontaneity The Arts and Cultural Center Gallery | 2010 |
| Vinifera Chait Fine Art Gallery | 2010 |
| The Landmark Society of Western New York Inside Downtown Tour | 2009, 2007 |
| Chait Fine Art Gallery | |
Selected Group Exhibitions |
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| Blue The Mill Art Center and Gallery Honeoye Falls, NY | 2023 |
| For Love of Art Exhibition The Mill Art Center& Gallery, Honeoye Falls, NY |
2021 |
| Member's Spring Exhibition The Mill Art Center & Gallery, Honeoye Falls, NY |
2021 |
| Instructor – Student Exhibition The Mill Art Center & Gallery, Honeoye Falls, NY |
2021 |
| Arena Art Group Celebrates 70 Years in Making Bevier Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology |
2021 |
| Arena @ The Mill The Mill Art Center & Gallery, Honeoye Falls, NY |
2019 |
| Hues of Hope Invitational Norchar Gallery, Rochester |
2017 |
| Rotating Arts Program Bausch + Lomb Global Optics Center, Rochester |
2017 |
| Explorations: A Visual Conversation The Dyer Arts Center Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester | 2016 |
| Early Spring Invitational – Corks and Contemporary Tones on Park Ave! Norchar and Banas Galleries Rochester | 2017 |
| Arena at R Gallery R Rochester |
2014 |
| Intersections of Form, Color, Time and Space (Duo show) The Dyer Arts Center, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY |
2014 |
| What's New With Arena, I Square Visions Gallery, Rochester, NY | 2014 |
| Arena Visions, The Geisel Gallery Bausch + Lomb Tower, Rochester, NY | 2014 |
| Arena at St. John Fisher, O'Keefe Ross Gallery St. John Fisher Coll. Rochester, NY | 2013 |
| 6 X 6 Rochester Contemporary Art Center | 2013 |
| Connections University Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology | 2013 |
| RoCo Members Exhibition, Rochester Contemporary Art Center | 2013 |
| Essential, The Gathering Art Show On Broadway Dacia Gallery New York City |
2012 |
| The Arena Art Group Exhibition, Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34 Finger Lakes Community College | 2012 |
| 4 Expressions Black Radish Studio | 2012 |
| Fall - Winter Art Exhibition Tap and Mallett | 2011 |
| Annual Studio Exhibition The Steve Carpenter Gallery and Art Center | 2010-11 |
| AIA Rochester Architects as Artists Exhibition, The Arts and Cultural Center Gallery | 2010-11 |
| Gallery 821 3rd Anniversary Show Gallery 821 | 2010 |
| The Advocacy Center Night of Hot Jazz and Cool Art, The Memorial Art Gallery | 2010 |
| Rochester Art Supply Invitational High Falls Art Gallery | 2011-12 |
| AIA Rochester Architects as Artists Exhibition Bausch and Lomb Gallery | 2009 |
| Featured in Architectural Record Online Galleries | 2009 |
| Land, Sea and Sky Exhibition High Falls Art Gallery | 2008 |
| Circle Exhibition High Falls Art Gallery | 2008 |
| Fall Showcase Cascade Art Center | 2008 |
| Our Town Exhibition High Falls Art Gallery | 2008 |
| Steve Carpenter Gallery and Art Center Invitational, The Steve Carpenter Gallery and Art Center | 2008 |
Publications |
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| Abstractics: The Journal Of Abstract and Nonrepresentational Art, Issues 002 + 003 | 2026 |
| "Meet Artist Stu Chait: Creating Abstract Watercolors Inspired by Architecture and Nature" North Chili Neighbors Magazine | 2021 |
| "Artists to Look Out For" Starry Nights | 2014 |
| "Art | Intersections: Form, Space, Time + Color" City Newspaper | 2014 |
| "Rochester artists converge thoughts and expression at NTID Dyer Arts Center" RIT University News | 2014 |
| “Rochester area artist Stu Chait to exhibit at Red Tail Ridge Winery” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | 2013 |
| “RIT’s University Gallery presents ‘Connections’ exhibit” RIT University News | 2013 |
| “JGK Galleries' Art Roc Show 2013 Showcase"City Newspaper | 2013 |
| "Local Color” Rochester Magazine | 2013 |
| Everything Is Art Special Edition | 2012 |
| ART SPOTLIGHT Hospitality Design | 2012 |
| GALLERY SPOTLIGHT Metropolitan | 2011 |
| "Architect Stu Chait Turns To More Abstract Art" Westside News | 2011 |
| GALLERY SPOTLIGHT Rochester | 2010 |
| GALLERY SPOTLIGHT Metropolitan | 2010 |
| ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Rochester Democrat And Chronicle | 2010 |
| ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Judson's Plein Air Outfitters | 2010 |
| ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Phil Levine Workshops | 2009 |
| ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Rochester Democrat And Chronicle | 2007 |
| "The Art of the Summer House" Rochester Magazine | 2006 |
| "Art Glass Is It Art, Or Is It Glass? Why Not Both?" GGW Vignettes | 2004 |
| "Designer Furniture: Is There A Difference? Advice From The Experts" | 1989 |
| City Newspaper | 1989 |
Teaching, Demonstrations & Workshops |
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| The Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY | |
| The Mill Art Center & Gallery, Honeoye Falls, NY | |
| Adjunct Professor: Master of Architecture Program, Rochester Institute of Technology | |
| Chili Art Group, Rochester, NY | |
| Penfield Art Association, Rochester, NY | |
| Pittsford Art Group, Rochester, NY | |
| Creative Wellness Coalition, Rochester, NY | |
| AIA Rochester | |
Non Exclusive Representation |
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| Kalisher, Durham, NC | |
| DAC Hospitality, Atlanta | |
Private Individual & Corporate Collections: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MA, NY, PA, TN, VA, New Zealand, Quebec |
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| Architectural Foundation of Greater Rochester | |
| All About Home Care | |
| The Veteran's Outreach Center | |
| The Advocacy Center of Rochester | |
| AIDS Rochester | |
| The Center For Disability Rights | |
| Aurora House | |
| Ronald McDonald House of Rochester | |
Personal |
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| Born November 11, 1957, Rochester, New York | |
Education |
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| B. Architecture w/ High Honors | |
| School of Architecture University of Tennessee, 1979 | |
Awards |
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| Juror's Award Rochester Art Club Member's Exhibit | 2025 |
| Finalist International Shades of Green Competition | 2023 |
| 1st Prize AIA Rochester Membership Directory Cover Contest | 2018 |
| Finalist The Artist's Magazine 28th Annual Art Competition | 2011 |
| Judge's Award Annual Show Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters | 2008 |