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Charles Robert Searles Sculptures

American, 1937-2004

Inspired by the traditional art of Africa, Charles Robert Searles referenced masks, dancers and music in his kaleidoscopic paintings, sculptures, prints, public artworks and drawings. “Busy is the term that many people use when describing my paintings,” he wrote in a 1973 statement. “Busy yes, or I’d say full. Full of color, full of design, movement and people.”

Born in Philadelphia, Searles initially worked as a house painter before serving in the Army. He then studied at the ​​University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before traveling to Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco and other West African countries on a Cresson Traveling Scholarship. The experience was pivotal, with the sights and sounds he witnessed influencing the buoyant colors and dynamic scenes of his paintings. After returning to Philadelphia, Searles taught at the Ile Ife Black Humanitarian Center before moving to New York, where he set up a studio.

Searles’s work was featured in the 1969 “New Black Artists” exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. It was among the first shows to showcase Black modern artists. Searles’s work was also part of the 1971 “Contemporary Black Artists in America” at the Whitney Museum, where his painting News garnered critical acclaim. In 1974, the artist was commissioned to paint a mural in Philadelphia’s William J. Green Jr. Federal Building. The resulting piece, a vibrant panorama of dancers and drummers, merges the energy of American street festivals with Searles’s memories of Nigeria. While his later work was more abstract and often involved carved wooden elements, it was always imbued with a vivid sense of rhythm and movement.

Searles’s art has been exhibited around the world. It is in many permanent collections, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Woodmere Art Museum and Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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Artist: Charles Robert Searles
"Bo Bro Bill"
By Charles Robert Searles
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Jim's of Lambertville Fine Art Gallery is proud to present this piece by Charles Searles (1937 - 2004). Charles Searles was born in Philadelphia, PA and received his fine art educat...
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1960s Charles Robert Searles Sculptures

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Wood, Masonite, Mixed Media

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Charles Robert Searles sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Charles Robert Searles sculptures available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Charles Robert Searles in masonite, mixed media, wood and more. Not every interior allows for large Charles Robert Searles sculptures, so small editions measuring 32 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Gino Miles, Clement Meadmore, and George Sugarman. Charles Robert Searles sculptures prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $99,375 and tops out at $99,375, while the average work can sell for $99,375.

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