Beguiled by the Wild: The Art of Charley Harper

Presenting more than 110 serigraphs accompanied by intriguing, pun-filled captions, this new, revised edition of Beguiled by the Wild: The Art of Charley Harper pays homage to one of America’s most beloved artists. Harper, with his masterly use of simple geometric shapes, patterns, and vivid colors, distilled the essence of each bird, bug, otter, raccoon, or elephant he painted to its most important details. His approach to depicting the natural world is both sophisticated and fun. His works—especially those of cardinals and ladybugs—have become icons of wildlife art. This new edition of Beguiled by the Wild, originally published in 1994 and long out of print, presents—exclusively—all of the serigraphs Charley Harper produced from 1968 to 2007. Fans of Harper will be happy to see, along with several new images, almost all of their favorites from the original edition.

Charley Harper

Midcentury modernist Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) portrayed the natural world with heart and humor. In vivid colors and simple shapes, his cardinals, ladybugs, and clever critters have become icons of wildlife art. His illustrations were published in magazines and books, notably Ford Times and The Giant Golden Book of Biology. A longtime conservationist, Harper created posters for more than 50 nature- and conservation-oriented organizations. His US National Park Service posters—massive, requiring a year each to paint—showcase delightful depictions of entire ecosystems in a style he defined as “minimal realism.” In his adopted hometown of Cincinnati, his public works are the legacy of an artist truly beguiled by the wild, one whose art was a quiet catalyst for ecological action.