Charles Bragg

(American, 1931 - 2017)

Charles Bragg’s works were produced with such a level of skill that he has been equated to the skill of masters of etching such as Bosch, Goya, and Daumier, and Satirists Rowlandson, Cruikshank, Daumier, Hogarth, and Nast. Many of Bragg’s pictorial lampoons and sardonic pageants are directed at power groups such as politicians, the military, and the church, and seem to portray the essence of rationality. Bragg personified the spectrum of human frailties – from greed, to vanity, to hypocrisy – in droll, gnome-like caricatures, vibrantly colored and intricately etched. His sculptures of judges, sportsmen, misers, and voluptuaries, including God and Don Quixote, demonstrate tasteful caricatures with a blend of satire, irony, and raw talent.

Charles Bragg was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1931. As a young boy, he was constantly on the road with his parents, who were performers in the waning days of vaudeville.  As a teenager he grew up in the Bronx, and attended the High School of Music and Art in Harlem.  He was married at the age of 18 and had two children by the time he was 21.  His resume includes a diverse collection of odd jobs, including time spent as a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman, a truck driver, a factory worker, and a stand-up comedian. Eventually, he moved to California and began his artistic career by painting portraits for wealthy families and giving art lessons to society matrons. Bragg went from living out of an Airstream trailer on the road to living in his own mansion in Bel Air with a Rolls Royce.

Bragg held solo exhibitions around the world, from Munich, to Honolulu.  He had been commissioned by Playboy magazine, won a number of awards, and in 1986 was the subject of a PBS documentary, “Charles Bragg – One of A Kind.” Bragg’s humor and unique perspective of the human condition ensures he was the constant observer, but never the innocent bystander. Bragg passed away on January 9, 2017 at the age of 85.

American Fine Art, Inc. is pleased to be the representative for the works of this satirical master, from his entertaining sculptures of Doctors, Judges, and Lawyers to his original paintings and limited edition works including his artist series capturing the original masters such as Rembrandt, Monet and Lautrec with their artworks. Visit our 12,000 sq. ft. showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona or call today. Our website is offered only as a limited place to browse or refresh your memory and is not a reflection of our current inventory. To learn more about collecting, pricing, value, or any other art information, please contact one of our International Art Consultants. We look forward to giving you the one on one attention you deserve when building your fine art collection.  We hope you find our website helpful and look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale soon.