Last Chance for Charley Harper’s Exhibit I Count the Wings, Not the Feathers!

Cardinals Consorting by Charley Harper

Cardinals Consorting by Charley Harper

Here at Fabulous Frames & Art, we have to remind East Coast fans of Charley Harper that you have another week and a half to check out the Modern Minimalist works by this artist in the exhibit I Count the Wings, Not the Feathers!, up through December 30th at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, NY.


The mission of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History is to continue the legacy of Roger Tory Peterson by promoting the teaching and study of nature, and to thereby create knowledge of and appreciation and responsibility for the natural world.

Charley Harper was born in Frenchton, West Virginia and studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, where he met his wife Edie. During his long and distinguished career, he illustrated numerous books, including The Golden Book of Biology, magazines such as Ford Times, as well as many prints, posters, murals, and other works. His work focused on the natural environment, and Harper often created works for nature-based organizations, among them the National Park Service; Cincinnati Zoo; Cincinnati Nature Center; Hamilton County, Ohio Park District; and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

Harper was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations. He called his style “minimal realism,” capturing the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. Using graphic shapes and bold colors, Harper distilled and simplified complex elements. His nature-oriented artwork is often contrasted with the realism of John James Audubon and the simplicity found in Inuit Art.

Cincinnati-based Fabulous Frames & Art is a family-owned business and the world’s largest dealer in the work of Charley Harper, including his books, serigraphs, lithographs, giclee prints, and posters. We are proud to also carry work by Charley’s wife Edie Harper and their son Brett Harper.

1 thought on “Last Chance for Charley Harper’s Exhibit I Count the Wings, Not the Feathers!

  1. He created works for many nature based organizations including the National Park Service Cincinnati Zoo Cincinnati Nature Center Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania and created interpretive displays for Everglades National Park..Charley Harper captured the essence of his subjects with the fewest visual elements. Charley described his own work in this way When I look at a wildlife or nature subject I dont see the feathers in the wings I just count the wings.

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