Lost Paintings Re-discovered
Stored Away for Safe Keeping
The discovery of a trove of more than 50 original Charley Harper paintings that were part of the private Corporate Art Collection of the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan was recently announced the the artist's estate. According to a prominent Harper dealer "Ford commissioned these works from the 1940's through the mid 1960's, and each of the paintings appeared at one time or another in either the Ford Times or Lincoln Mercury Times magazines. Most Harper fans and collectors have never seen these works. The discovery of these paintings even came as a surprise to Charley's son, Brett." "When I first walked into the room at Ford...tears welled up in my eyes."
-Brett Harper
Even the artist's family was taken by surprise.
"They are the rarest of the rare."
-Brett Harper
Previously Unknown Bird and Fish Originals
No one knew they ever existed
Brett Harper and The Charley Harper Art Studio had been under the impression that the silkscreen prints of birds and fish that Charley made for the Ford Times magazine had been originally conceived as serigraphs. It came as a great shock to discover among this treasure the some 25 original paintings from which these prints were made. Brett Harper says "The jury's still out on what price the market will value these collages. They are the rarest of the rare." "The collages have a vibrancy and life that isn't apparent in either the prints or the magazines"
Harper's Art Shines in its Original Format
Preview Some of the "Trove"
View the rest of the Trove
- The Harper Trove Slideshow.
- The Harper Trove can be viewed in its entirety on the Harper Family home website.
Charley Harper on Amazon
Charles Harper’s Birds & Words Ltd Edition W Red-eyed Vireo Print
Amazon Price: $67.50 (as of 11/09/2009) 
Charley Harper Lithograph- "A Good World"
Amazon Price: $50.00 (as of 11/09/2009)
Charley Harper Lithograph "Birdfeeders"
Amazon Price: $50.00 (as of 11/09/2009)
Harper in the Blogosphere
- New popular edition of Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life « Drawn ...
- One of my most prized books is the beautiful, and massive Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life. It's a book filled with Harper's brilliant modernist nature illustrations, and one that I think belongs in every illustrator's collection. ...
- Design Assembly » Blog Archive » Charley Harper @ Altman Siegel ...
- For those lucky enough to be in San Francisco, an exhibition of original Harper drawings and paintings recently opened at Altman Siegel Gallery, showing until October 31st. The works on show, many small in scale, are original ...
- Charley Harper Original Art Exhibit « Fabulous Frames & Art Blog
- Charley Harper Original Art Exhibit: next Saturday, a long-lost treasure trove of Harper's paintings for Ford Times and Lincoln Mercury Times will be unveiled at Fabulous Frames & Art in Montgomery. [...] ...
- Charley Harper | ACCD / AIGA
- This exhibition features major works on canvas from throughout Harper's career and original illustrations and paintings from classic publications such as The Giant Golden Book of Biology (1961, Golden Press) and The Animal Kingdom (1968 ...
Harper Fans, share your joy!
If you're as excited as I am to see these new pieces, share your joy with the rest of us!
Laura Kennedy wrote
Saw the Charley Harper exhibit at the Puallyup Fair Friday 9/11...remarkable!! Somebody went thru a great deal of research and work to get that up and going. Loved the family photo of Charley at his table with Eddie and Bret. These were original works and amazing up close to see. I had to just hang around for an hour or so to see peoples reactions to his work...priceless. I WANNA HARPER MUSEUM!
Posted September 12, 2009
JonitasKalimpo wrote...
I must say this is a very good work. I love this type of lens, a mix between article and news. i Left you 5 stars, well deserved.
Posted June 18, 2009
ChapelHillFiddler wrote...
I love this lens. It is completely original and well integrated. I don't give out stars often but I'm giving you a top rating. Love it.
Posted June 18, 2009
More About Charley Harper
- The Charley Harper Art Studio
- Shop for Charley Harper prints, note cards, and posters.
- The Harper Studio Blog
- Up to date news from the Charley Harper Art Studio.
- In Memoriam
- A memorial page devoted to Charley Harper and his legacy.
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