Charles Shaw

"Mother and Children"

Charles William Shaw was a multifaceted American Postwar & Contemporary artist from Austin, Texas. Primarily known for his narrative artworks, Shaw's pieces are currently on display at the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos, and his work had previously graced the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. His artistic journey was shaped by influences such as Malcolm Thurgood, whom he studied life drawing with, as well as notable figures like Howard Pyle, John Singer Sargent, Frans Hals, and Norman Rockwell, who sponsored Shaw into the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Shaw was also an accomplished author and served as the art director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. Shaw's oeuvre often celebrated Texas frontier lifestyles, children, and jazz musicians, and he left his artistic imprint on books like "Impressions of Texas" (1986) and James Michener's renowned work "Texas" (1985).