The paintings of Charley Harper, a lifelong nature enthusiast, have delighted art and animal lovers for more than seven decades. With his distinctive use of geometric shapes, patterns, and vivid colors, Harper distilled the essence of each bird, animal, insect, or tree to its most important details—as he said, “Instead of putting everything in, I try to leave everything out. I call it ‘minimal realism.’” Harper’s paintings and posters have been published by a variety of nature- and conservation-oriented organizations. With his elegant, minimalist method of depicting wildlife, Harper transported viewers into the natural world via lively but self-described “flat” images. His paintings of various ecosystems and, above all, brilliant birds, emphasized hard-edged simplicity.
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