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Charles Turzak Art

American, 1899-1986

Charles Turzak was born in Streator, Illinois. He was a printmaker, a painter, a muralist, a teacher and a graphic artist. Turzak received his art education at the Art Institute of Chicago and continued his studies abroad. He won wide recognition as an artist/author and illustrator through his woodcut biographies of Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin as well as other American Statesmen. Charles Turzak's work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Missouri, Library of Congress and the University of Illinois to mention a few. He is listed in the Who's Who in 20th Century American Artists. Over the years his designs and illustrations for national publishers have brought Turzak many honors for his originality and creativity.

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Artist: Charles Turzak
'North Bank of the Chicago River' — WPA Graphic Modernism
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'North Bank of the Chicago River', color woodcut, c. 1935, edition 50. Signed and titled in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression, with...
Category

1930s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

'Dancers' — 1930s American Modernism
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'Dancers', 1939, wood engraving, edition 100. Signed, titled, and numbered 72/100 in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression, on off-white Japan paper, with full marg...
Category

Mid-20th Century Art Deco Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

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1920s Art Deco Charles Turzak Art

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Located in Milwaukee, WI
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1930s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

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Located in Surfside, FL
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CHRONOLOGY Individual exhibitions 1946 - Sao Paulo SP - 10th Salon of the Artists' Union, at the Prestes Maia Gallery 1947 - São Paulo SP - 19 Painters, at the Prestes Maia Gallery 1948 - Paris France - Peintres et Graveurs Etrangers at the École des Beaux-Arts 1949 - São Paulo SP - 13th Salon of the Artists' Union, at the Prestes Maia Gallery 1951 - São Paulo SP - 1st Paulista Salon of Modern Art, at Prestes Maia Gallery - silver medal 1953 - São Paulo SP - 2nd International Biennial of São Paulo, at MAM / SP 1954 - São Paulo SP - 3rd Paulista Salon of Modern Art, in the Prestes Maia Gallery 1955 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 4th National Salon of Modern Art 1955 - Salvador BA - 5th Baiano Salon of Fine Arts, in Belvedere da Sé - honorable mention 1962 - São Paulo SP - Leirner Prize for Contemporary Art at the Folha Art Gallery - 1st printing award 1963 - Curitiba PR - 20th Salão Paranaense de Belas Artes, at the Public Library of Paraná 1963 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Individual, no MAM / RJ 1968 - Bradford England - First International Print Biennale 1970 - São Paulo SP - Antonio Henrique Amaral, Odetto Guersoni, Tomie Ohtake, Pedro Tort and Gerda Brentani, in the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery 1971 - São Paulo SP - 11th International Biennial of São Paulo, at the Biennial Foundation - acquisition award 1973 - Punta del Este Uruguay - 1st Engraving Meeting of the Prata Basin Countries - International Prize 1977 - São Paulo SP - The Groups: the 40's, at the Lasar Segall Museum 1982 - São Paulo SP - Ismenia Coaracy, Odetto Guersoni and Alice Brill...
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1940s Art Deco Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

Modern American Industrial Landscape
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An original woodblock print dated 1965, titled "Our Town" but signed illegibly.
Category

1960s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

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THE RUG WEAVER
By Gustave Baumann
Located in Santa Monica, CA
GUSTAVE BAUMANN (1881 – 1971) THE RUG WEAVER, 1910 (Chamberlain 26) Color woodcut signed in pencil. Unnumbed from an edition 100 as published in the Hills o’ Brown...
Category

1910s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

Materials

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THE RUG WEAVER
THE RUG WEAVER
$2,250
H 9 in W 13.125 in
Peace
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Located in Fairlawn, OH
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EROTIC DREAM, Woodcut, Limited Edition, signed by the Artist
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"EROTIC DREAM" (1976) by Norbert Matzdorf Woodcut print on paper Limited Edition, numbered (10.3), dated and hand-signed by the artist 27,9 x 38,3 cm Norbert Matzdorf (1951 – 2013) ...
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Materials

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Previously Available Items
Michigan Avenue Bridge — American Modernism
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'Michigan Avenue Bridge', 1929, woodcut, edition 50. Signed, titled, and numbered '27/50' in pencil. Signed in the block, upper left. A fine, black impression, on cream Japan paper, with full margins (1 5/8 to 2 1/4 inches), in excellent condition. Matted to museum standards, unframed. Scarce. Collection: National Gallery of Art. ABOUT THE ARTIST Charles Turzak was born in Streator, Illinois, the third child and only son of Czechoslovakian immigrant parents. His father was a coal miner who worked long days, and the many chores of daily life occupied Turzak’s boyhood years. When he completed his duties, he retired to do what he most enjoyed—the careful carving of miniature animals from peach seeds, which he would sell for pennies. Turzak learned woodworking from a neighbor, an English cabinet maker, and soon apprenticed for making violins. He drew cartoons for his school's yearbook and sale bills for local merchants. In 1920, he won a cartoon contest sponsored by the Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri, which helped him earn entrance to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He excelled in drawing and woodcarving and gained membership in Delta Phi Delta, an honorary art fraternity. He supported himself through freelance advertising, selling insurance, and teaching a class in woodcut and wood engraving at the Academy of Fine Arts. By the late 1920s, he had gained recognition from exhibiting and selling prints of Northwestern University and Chicago landmarks such as the Chicago Water Tower, Tribune Tower, and Buckingham Fountain, as well as watercolors of steel mills, boats, harbors, skylines, woodlands, parks, and still life subjects. In 1929 he traveled to Europe to study the works of the masters firsthand, visiting England, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and France. He returned to the United States just as the Great Depression was taking hold of the country. During this severe economic downturn, Turzak created woodcut biographies of notable Americans—his first edition on Abraham Lincoln sold so well at the Century of Progress International Exhibition (Chicago World’s Fair...
Category

1920s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

Merchandise Mart — American Modernism
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'Merchandise Mart', 1931, woodcut, edition 50. Signed, titled, and numbered '33/50' in pencil. Signed in the block, lower right. A fine, black impression, on cream Japan paper, with full margins (1 3/4 to 3 inches), in very good condition. Matted to museum standards, unframed. Scarce. Collections: Art Institute of Chicago, Hubbard Fund, Library of Congress, Newark Museum. ABOUT THE ARTIST Charles Turzak was born in Streator, Illinois, the third child and only son of Czechoslovakian immigrant parents. His father was a coal miner who worked long days, and the many chores of daily life occupied Turzak’s boyhood years. When he completed his duties, he retired to do what he most enjoyed—the careful carving of miniature animals from peach seeds, which he would sell for pennies. Turzak learned woodworking from a neighbor, an English cabinet maker, and soon apprenticed for making violins. He drew cartoons for his school's yearbook and sale bills for local merchants. In 1920, he won a cartoon contest sponsored by the Purina Company in St. Louis, Missouri, which helped him earn entrance to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He excelled in drawing and woodcarving and gained membership in Delta Phi Delta, an honorary art fraternity. He supported himself through freelance advertising, selling insurance, and teaching a class in woodcut and wood engraving at the Academy of Fine Arts. By the late 1920s, he had gained recognition from exhibiting and selling prints of Northwestern University and Chicago landmarks such as the Chicago Water Tower...
Category

1930s Art Deco Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

'Autumn' — 1920s American Modernism, Color Woodcut
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'Autumn', color woodcut, edition 50, c. 1925. Signed, titled and numbered '17/50' in pencil. Signed in the block, lower left. A fine impression, with fresh colors, on...
Category

1920s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

'Spring' — 1920s American Modernism, Color Woodcut
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'Spring', color woodcut, edition 50, c. 1925. Signed, titled, and numbered '4/50' in pencil. Signed in the block, lower left. A fine impression, with fresh colors, on...
Category

1920s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

The Kiss
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, 'The Kiss', 1932, wood engraving, edition 100. Signed, titled and numbered '70/100' in pencil. A fine, black impression, on cream Japan paper,...
Category

1930s Art Deco Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

The Kiss
The Kiss
H 8.75 in W 4.38 in
Loop Alley (Chicago)
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Charles Turzak, Loop Alley (Chicago), color woodcut, edition c. 25, c. 1935. Signed and titled in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression, with fresh colors, on cream wove Japan pape...
Category

1930s Art Deco Charles Turzak Art

Materials

Woodcut

Merchandise Mart (Chicago)
By Charles Turzak
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
A dramatic, period Chicago cityscape, in the artist's art deco inspired signature style. A brilliant black impression, the full sheet with margins (...
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1930s American Modern Charles Turzak Art

Materials

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Charles Turzak art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Charles Turzak art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Charles Turzak in woodcut print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Art Deco style. Not every interior allows for large Charles Turzak art, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Frank Wootton, Roger Soubie, and George Biddle. Charles Turzak art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,100 and tops out at $4,000, while the average work can sell for $2,200.

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