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Charles Harris ( Beni Kosh )
untitled (Reclining Female Nude)

1950

About the Item

Aka Beni Kosh Still Life with Flowers Colored pencil on paper Unsigned Signed with the estate stamp on reverse (see photo) Estate No. 716 Condition: Soft fold through image, wrinkles to sheet Sheet size: 19 x 25 inches Provenance: Estate of the Artist “An African-American born Charles E. Harris, the name under which he painted until the early 1960s when he took the name of Kosh. His paintings span the period 1949-71, and reflect abstract and surreal figurative subjects which include Cleveland street scenes, jazz clubs, and depictions of Christ.” Courtesy of Rachel Davis Fine Art “Beni E. Kosh was born as Charles Elmer Harris, in Cleveland Ohio. He changed his name in the 1960’s, which translates to “Son of Ethiopia”. He rarely exhibited or sold his work and was affiliated with the African-American artists’ “Sho-nuff Art Group” and the Karamu House and studied under Cleveland artist Paul Travis. His style is very diverse and he experimented with Cubism, portraiture and abstractions in series. His paintings span from 1949 – 1971, and reflect abstract and surreal figurative subjects, which include Cleveland street scenes, jazz clubs, and depictions of Christ. He received little recognition during his lifetime and was only “rediscovered” literally days after his death when hundreds of his paintings were rescued by an art dealer.” (Courtesy Pennsylvania Art Conservatory “The outsider artist Beni Kosh, largely self-trained, born as Charles Harris in Cleveland in 1917, who was heavily influenced by Cubism and Surrealism. In honor of his friendship with the late Armond Cohen, former rabbi at Park Synagogue, Harris late in life adopted a Hebrew name that can be translated as "my son is black" or "son of Ethiopia." Courtesy Clevelandcom
  • Creator:
    Charles Harris ( Beni Kosh ) (1917 - 1993, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1950
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Fairlawn, OH
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: FA94271stDibs: LU1404798681

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