Charles Emerson

Charles Emerson is a Pacific Northwest painter who creates richly hued abstract paintings that describe ethereal and atmospheric spaces. Embracing color as the foundation of his work, Emerson builds his compositions by applying layers of subtly varied tones that shift with light. His paintings contain terrestrial forms, celestial shapes, and painterly marks, each depicting an emotive microcosm with every varying palette. His paintings are reflections on personal experiences and an engagement with the concept that “nothing ever stays the same.” Emerson uses painting both as a visual diary-- recording places, significant moments, and interpersonal interactions--as well as a part of a spiritual search where one can transcend the here and now.

Charles Emerson, originally from Los Angeles, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from University of Southern California. He studied at Boston University for a year, and then received his Master of Fine Arts from Yale University. He was the recipient of the Fulbright Grant, and he completed his fellowship in Venice, Italy in 1961. Emerson has shown nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Venice, Italy and Los Angeles, CA. He was the artist-in residence at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art (Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego) in La Jolla, CA, and at Reed College in Portland, OR. Emerson has resided in the Northwest for more than 30 years. Most recently, a significant exhibition entitled Charles Emerson: Color & Abstraction is on display at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art in Washington through September 22, 2024. He teaches painting and a Josef Albers color experience class at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, Washington, exploring how to see and understand the behavior of color. He has been represented by Harris Harvey Gallery since 2016.