PETER CHARLES
I like to think that my work is about beauty, balance and harmony– keeping both sculpture and painting to their most basic shapes and lines to make the most out of the least.
—Peter Charles, 2022
Peter Charles, creates work which lies on the edge of abstraction and figuration—where literal images become ambiguous. Charles says that these images are meant to evoke a state of mind where a person can consider things from multiple points of view at once. He uses simple metal shapes which seem to play off their own shadows to make changes in the art. By incorporating the shadows into the artwork, the shapes are eternally changing just as light conditions change.
Charles’ images usually include vessels representing the paradox of fullness and emptiness, inside and outside, but also may be a sexual symbol. Occasionally, he makes flower shapes to symbolize nature and beauty.
ABOUT PETER CHARLES
Peter Charles is the recipient of a SECCA Award in the Visual Arts Individual Artist’s Grant, and a (NEA) National Endowment for the Arts and the Visual Arts Fellowship Grant. His work has been shown in numerous solo exhibitions including the Phillips Collection, Anton Gallery, Henri Gallery, Baumgartner Gallery and the David Adamson Gallery, Washington, DC; Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Huntington Museum, Huntington, West Virginia; Zolla-Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, Il; Touchstone Gallery and the Ruth Siegel Gallery, NYC; and the Koplin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Group exhibitions include the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; the Institute of Contemporary Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. A native of Washington, DC, Charles earned his BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from the Yale University School of Art and Architecture. He resides in San Luis Obispo, CA.
PETER CHARLES
BORN
Washington, DC
EDUCATION
Yale University School of Art & Architecture, M.F.A.
Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016
Transitions, Green Chalk Contemporary, Monterey, CA.
2013
Form/Image, Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, NY.
2012
Cross Mackenzie Gallery, Washington, DC.
2005
Irvine Contemporary Art, Washington, DC.
David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY.
2002
Anton Gallery, Washington, DC.
1999
Anton Gallery, Washington, DC.
1998
David Adamson Gallery, Washington, DC.
1994
Baumgartner Galleries, Inc., Washington, DC.
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
1991
Baumgartner Galleries, Inc., Washington, DC.
1990
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY.
1989
Baumgartner Galleries, Inc., Washington, DC.
1988
Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY.
1987
Selected Works 1978-1987, Baumgartner Galleries, Inc., Washington, DC.
Koplin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
Sculpture & Drawings, Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY.
1986
Baumgartner Galleries, Inc., Washington, DC.
Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY.
1985
Outdoor Sculpture, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017
New Perspectives, San Luis Obispo Museum Of Art, San Luis Obispo,CA, February 3-26
AWAKENING, Invitational Show, Carmel, CA, February 7-28
2016
Sand City Juried Exhibition, Sand City, CA, August 26-September 25
2014
Fresh Fish, Green Chalk Contemporary, Monterey, CA.
2009
Gallery Artists, David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY.
2008
Gallery Artists, David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY.
2007
Group Show, David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY,
2006
Gallery & Invited Artists, Kim Foster Gallery, New York, NY.
The Blue Wall, Anton Gallery, Monterey, CA.
Armory Show Weekend, New York, NY, Irvine Contemporary Art.
Invitational Exhibition, David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY.
Gallery Artists@14th Street, Irvine Contemporary Art, Washington, DC.
2005
A Tasting, Kim Foster Gallery, New York, NY.
2004
Invitational Show, David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY.
Invitational Exhibition, Ralls Collection, Washington, DC.
2003
Gallery Artists, Anton Gallery, Washington, DC.
2002
Group Show, David Findlay Gallery, New York, NY.
Artist’s Screens: Contemporary Perspectives, Eleven Eleven Sculpture Space, Washington, DC.
2000
Paper, Steel, Stone, (two-person exhibition), Anton Gallery, Washington, DC.
Considering Sculpture, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palms Springs, CA.
1999
Art in Embassies, U.S. Ambassador’s Residence, The Hague, Netherlands.
1998
Invitational, Art Gallery, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
1997
Bridgewater/Lustberg Gallery, New York, NY.
1996
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
1995
Fifty Objects, Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
Baumgartner Gallery, Washington, DC.
1994
Gallery Artists, Baumgartner Gallery, Washington, DC.
5 Sculptures, Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
1991
Baumgartner Galleries, Inc.,, Washington, DC.
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.
1989
Sculpture, Baumgartner Galleries, Inc., Washington, DC.
1988
24 Karat Show, Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY.
1987
Review/preview, Ruth Siegel Gallery, New York, NY.
Spectrum: Three Sculptors, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.
International Art Expo/87, Koplin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
1986
The Touchstone Show, at 112 Greene Street, New York, NY.
1985
Klein Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Washington Show, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.
1985
Awards in the Visual Arts 4, Institute of Contemporary Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Sculpture 85, Washington Square, Washington, DC.
Awards in theVisual Arts 4, The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2012
Jenkins, Mark, review, page C8, THE WASHINGTON POST, 4/6/12.
Coplan, Tina, review +image reproductions, p.212-214, HOME & DESIGN MAGAZINE, 3- 4/12.
Wilson, Elizabeth, review +image reproduction, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (onlne magazne), 3/12/12.
2005
Cohen, Jean Lawlor, review+ Image, ARTnews, pg. 203, Summer/05.
Dawson, Jessica, review +image reproduction, THE WASHINGTON POST, pg. C5, 3/31/06.
Bidisha Banerjee, Cage Your Television, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER, 4/8/05.
2000
Protzman, Ferdinand, review + color photo,THE WASHINGTON POST, 7/20/00.
Schneider, Cynthia & Van Cleave, Claire, catalog, Another Salute, essay and color photos pages 10-13, 7/00.
1998
Cohen, Jean Lawlor, review, WHERE, Washington page 32+color photos, 3/98.
1994
Tanguy, Sarah, review, SCULPTURE, page 68 + black & white photo, 5- 6/94.
1991
Wilson, Janet, review, THE WASHINGTON POST, 11/2/91.
1990
Fleming, Lee, Global Accents, MUSEUM & ARTS MAGAZNE, p.30. color imge reproduction+citation, 5- 6/90.
Geer, Suvan. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, 7/17/90.
1989
Pettit, Richard, Peter Charles, WASHNGTON MUSEUM & ARTS MAGAZINE, page 18. 5- 6/89.
Gibson, Eric. Washington Sculpture, WASHINGTON MUSEUM & ARTS MAGAZNE, 7- 8/89.
1988
Webb, Michael. Baldwin House, photograph, ARCHITECTURAL DGEST, 3/88.
1987
Delsesto, Christina, Peter Charles & the Art of Presentation, THE WASHINGTON POST, 11/22/87.
Beardsley, John, Spectrum: Three Sculptors, essay with images, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.
Gardner, Colin. review, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, 6/87.
Kessler, Pamela, The Scrutable & the Strong, THE WASHINGTON POST, 3/15/87.
DeRosa, R. Macchiavelli, review, THE NEW ART EXAMINER, page 57, 5/86.
1986
Fleming, Lee, review, ART NEWS.
Lewis, Jo Ann, review, THE WASHINGTON POST, 1/86.
The Phillips Collection, Two Sculptures, catalog, 10/85- 1/86.
Welzenbach, Michael. review, THE WASHINGTON POST, 1/86.
Botwinick, Michael, catalogue for THE WASHINGTON SHOW, Classical Idea, page 55, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, 5- 7/85.
HONORS
2007
Georgetown University, Graduate School Summer Academic Grant, Washington, DC.
2000
Celadon, Inc., Printmaking Fellowship at VCU, Richmond, VA.
1985
Individual Artist Award, Awards in the Visual Arts 4,’s Grant, sponsored by the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC. Winston-Salem, NC.
1984
Individual Artist’s Grant, Awards in the Visual Arts 4, sponsored by the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC.
1983
Visual Arts Fellowship Grant, National Endowment for the Arts.
1982
Visual Arts Fellowship Grant, National Endowment for the Arts.
SELECTED PUBLIC AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Capital One Bank, Richmond, VA & Washington, DC.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Washington, DC.
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA.
Bank of Tokyo, Exxon Building, New York, NY.
The Museum of the South, Mobile, AL.
Peat, Marwick Main & Company, Washington, DC.
Altria (formally Phillip Morris Corporation) NYC, NY.
Arco Chemical Company, Newtown, PA.
The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ.
United States Comptroller of the Currency Collection, Washington, DC.
Ambassador Cynthia & Tom Schneider, The Hague, Netherlands (1998-2000).
Continental Bank & Trust Company, Chicago, IL
Huntington Museum, Huntington, WV.
Baltimore Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Baltimore, MD.
Federal Home Loan mortgage Bank, Washington, DC.
