Charlotte Gilbertson facts for kids

Charlotte Gilbertson (November 11, 1922 – April 12, 2014) was an American artist. She was known for her beautiful paintings and prints. Charlotte's art was inspired by many things, including old Greek stories and modern art styles. She traveled the world, and her journeys greatly influenced her unique artwork.

Charlotte's Art Style

Charlotte Gilbertson's art was inspired by several interesting ideas. She loved Greek mythology, which are ancient stories about gods and heroes. She also admired the French artist Paul Cézanne, who was famous for his unique way of painting.

Another big influence was Fernand Léger's modern art. He used bold shapes and colors. Charlotte was also inspired by "neo-Primitivism." This style shows people from places like Papua New Guinea in a simple, powerful way.

About Charlotte's Life

Her Childhood Years

Charlotte Gilbertson was born in Boston on November 11, 1922. This day is known as Armistice Day. She was the oldest of four children and the only girl in her family. Her father was a Methodist minister. They lived in a neighborhood called Roslindale in Boston. During the summers, her family would spend time at their summer home on Cape Cod.

After World War II: Paris and the GI Bill

During World War II, Charlotte joined the Armed Forces. She worked as a social worker helping people with mental health. She was stationed in Long Island and Georgia. After the war, she used the G.I. Bill of Rights. This program helped war veterans pay for their education.

Charlotte went to Boston University and finished her art studies in 1948. Then, she moved to New York City. Many abstract expressionist painters were there, but Charlotte wanted to learn a different style. She was interested in "constructive design," which was about building strong, clear shapes in art.

In 1949, Charlotte went to Paris, France, to continue her art journey. She was very interested in how Cézanne painted. In Paris, she studied drawing with the famous French artist Fernand Léger at his art studio, called an atelier. Léger was a great teacher for her. He even had a funny nickname for her: "la petite marine," which means "the little sailor," because she often wore work pants (dungarees), which was unusual for women back then.

Working and Painting in New York

After learning a lot about color, space, and design in Paris, Charlotte returned to New York City in 1951. She lived there for many years. To support herself, she worked various jobs.

Charlotte had a special routine: she worked during the winters and painted all summer long. She followed this pattern from 1951 to 1974, and again from 1977 to 1979. From 1962 to 1974, she had an important job at the Alexander Iolas Gallery in New York City. She started as an assistant director and later became the director. At the gallery, Charlotte met and became friends with the famous artist Andy Warhol. She even appeared in his film called Kiss.

Traveling the World

In 1976, Charlotte took an amazing trip around the world. She traveled for over a year, visiting many countries. These included Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Bali, Burma, India, Nepal, the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece. She also went back to many parts of Europe, like Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The bright colors she saw in Japan and the beautiful mountains in Japan and Bali inspired her paintings during this time. Her travels were paused in 1980 when she returned home to care for her parents.

More Travels and New Art Ideas

In 1990, Charlotte started traveling again. She visited many more places, including Belize and Tikal. She spent a lot of time in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Bali, India, and Nepal. In Nepal, she went on treks in the Annapurna mountains and even went on a safari by elephant in Chitwan National Park.

She also explored Tibet, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Her journeys ended in Western Europe, where she spent time in Paris and London before returning home. Her travels in South Asia had a big impact on her art from then on. In the 1990s, many of her paintings showed people from Papua New Guinea in that "neo-Primitivist" style she admired.

Her Later Years

Charlotte Gilbertson continued to be an active painter throughout her later years. She worked with different materials, creating small pieces on paper and canvas. She made many line drawings and several series of artworks on paper. One special series was about her memories of Papua New Guinea, which were very large paintings. She also created art on wood panels, using gold leaf and other mixed materials.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Charlotte Gilbertson's artwork was shown in many galleries and exhibition spaces over the years. Here are some of the places where her art was displayed:

Recognitions and Groups

Charlotte Gilbertson was recognized for her work. She was listed in Who's Who in America in 2002, which is a book that lists important people. She was also a lifelong member of the Visual Arts and Galleries Association.