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Long Lost Charley Harper

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Lost Paintings Re-discovered

A treasure trove of some 50 original Charley Harper paintings was recently brought to light after more than 35 yrs in storage at the Ford Motor Company archives.

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.

Says Charley's son, Director of The Charley Harper Art Studio, "When the Ford Motor Company historian called to tell me that he had located a vault of 3000 paintings, including this mother lode of my dad's original, commissioned paintings, I was floored. I felt like I was opening a buried treasure chest that had been locked up for more than 35 years."

"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

For years these images have been available at best as silkscreen prints and in many cases only as low resolution reproductions in magazines only inches across. To see them at full scale and in their original media is breathtaking. Rena Hopkins, Assistant Director of The Charley Harper Art Studio says that "The collages have a vibrancy and life that isn't apparent in either the prints or the magazines. Charley had a remarkable eye for line and color that just couldn't be duplicated by the print media of the time." The studio hopes to have this collection travel through a series of exhibitions across the country. If you have the opportunity to see them in person, it is well worth the effort.

View the Trove

The Harper Trove can be viewed in its entirety on the Harper Family home website.
The Harper Trove Slideshow.
The Harper Trove can be viewed in its entirety on the Harper Family home website.

Charley Harper on Amazon

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Harper in the Blogosphere

'Two and a Half Men' gets ratings boost from one woman
That news coincides with ?Men's? return to original episodes this week, as Kathy Bates plays the ghost of Charlie Sheen's character, Charlie Harper. Monday's broadcast snared the night's highest rating among the 18-to-49-year-old viewers who are the ...
'Men' powers CBS on Monday: Net wins in demos; 'Hawaii,' 'Castle' bash 'Smash'
... Charlie Harper, edged out NBC's ''The Voice'' in young adults Monday, and combined with good showings by all other CBS programs to put the Eye on top for the night in key demos. CBS, back in originals for the first time in three weeks, finished No.
Wildfires in the West Ignited by Extreme Heat
RELATED: Sheen Recruits Ex for Anger Management A new trailer for the upcoming comedy features the self-professed "warlock" surviving a train crash -- a reference to his former character Charlie Harper, who was killed by a train on Men.
Judge Me Paris
Seth Bockley's book is based on the true story of how in 1940, Harper's Bazaar fiction editor George Davis (Julian Fleisher) fell in love with a dilapidated old home in Brooklyn Heights and transformed it into an outer-boroughs artist colony where an ...
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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!

  • Stazjia Oct 3, 2010 @ 6:39 am | delete
    I would love to see Charley Harper's work in a gallery. Blessed by an Angel.
  • Laura Kennedy Sep 12, 2009 @ 5:56 pm | delete
    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!
  • a_willow Jun 19, 2009 @ 7:11 am | delete
    Love it! Blessed it! :)
  • JonitasKalimpo Jun 18, 2009 @ 2:01 pm | delete
    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.
  • ChapelHillFiddler Jun 18, 2009 @ 6:45 am | delete
    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.
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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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DivineIguana

Hello out there! I am Rena Hopkins, a mixed media collage and jewelry artist and owner of PassionFruitsImages, an artists' image resource. I love all... more »

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