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Charley Harper Contemporary Art

American, 1922-2007

Charley Harper was a Cincinnati-based American modernist artist. He was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations.

Born in Frenchton, West Virginia, in 1922, Harper had an upbringing at his family farm, which influenced his work until his last days. He left his farm home to study art at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and won the academy's first Stephen H. Wilder Traveling Scholarship. While at the Academy and supposedly on the first day, Harper met fellow artist Edie Mckee, whom he married shortly after graduation in 1947. He and Edie spent their honeymoon traveling the country, mainly in the West and the South, being able to do so because of the Stephen H. Wilder Scholarship the Academy awarded to Harper for post-graduate travels.

Harper returned to the Art Academy of Cincinnati as a teacher and also worked for a commercial firm before working on his own. He and his wife worked out of their Roselawn and Finneytown homes and later, with their only child Brett Harper, formed Harper Studios.

During his career, Harper illustrated numerous books, notably The Golden Book of Biology, magazines such as Ford Times as well as many prints, posters and other works. As his subjects were mainly natural, with birds prominently featured, Harper often created works for many nature-based organizations like the National Park Service, Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati Nature Center, Hamilton County (Ohio) Park District and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. He also designed interpretive displays for Everglades National Park. Harper died on June 10, 2007, after contending with pneumonia for some months.

Find a collection of Charley Harper art and wall decorations on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Charley Harper
Limited Eddition Serigraph of Red-Wing Blackbirds by Charley Harper, 1970s
By Charley Harper
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An expressive and graphic vintage serigraph depicting an abstracted group of red-wing blackbirds in flight. Signed in pencil by the artist.
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1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Charley Harper Contemporary Art

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Charley Harper contemporary art for sale on 1stDibs.

Charley Harper contemporary art are available for sale on 1stDibs. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Charley Harper contemporary art, although pink editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original contemporary art by Charley Harper were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 1970s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider contemporary art by Josef Albers, Curtis Jeré, and Henry Moore. Prices for Charley Harper contemporary art can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,400 and can go as high as $2,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,400.
Questions About Charley Harper Contemporary Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charley Harper was a modernist artist who is best known for his colorful and geometric wildlife prints. Harper used silkscreens, or serigraphs, to create his prints. In serigraphy, multiple colors are used, and often applied separately, to achieve the final image. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a variety of Charley Harper prints from some of the world’s top dealers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Charley Harper’s style of art is referred to as modernism but he preferred the term minimal realism. This American artist is best known for stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations that have a bold and whimsical appearance. Shop a selection of Charley Harper pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

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