Charles Searles

Charles Searles (1937-2004) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where he cultivated an interest in African art and its colors, patterns, mask forms, as well as dance movements. Upon graduating he received the Cresson Traveling Scholarship and later the Ware Memorial Traveling Scholarship. With these scholarships Searles was able to travel to Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, and other countries in West Africa to further his artistic studies. His early works reflect his impressions and experiences in Africa with their lyrical movements, vivid colors, and striking patterns. After returning from Africa Searles returned to Pennsylvania to teach at the then Philadelphia College of Art where he was a professor for over twenty years. Throughout this period, Searles began his Dancer series and was subsequently awarded his first mural commission at the William G. Green Federal Building in Philadelphia. 

In his lifetime, Charles Searles participated in over 60 group shows, and 25 solo exhibitions. He was represented by the Sande Webster Gallery in Philadelphia for over 20 years. His paintings and sculptures can be found in innumerable public and private collections. Public commissions include the Delaware River Port Authority, the NYC Mass Transit Authority, the First District Plaza in Philadelphia, and the Amtrak station in Newark, NJ. He was the recipient of many awards, including ones from the Pollock - Krasner Foundation, The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, the Creative Arts Project Fellowship, and the National Endowment for the Arts.