Charles Joseph Houghton Howard

Place: Montclair

Born: 1899

Death: 1978

Biography:

Early Life and Artistic Awakening

, an American artist born in 1899 in Montclair, New Jersey, was one of the vanguards who introduced European surrealism and biomorphic expressionism into the U.S. art world. His work is not only a surrealistic representation of the mind’s journey into the unconscious but also an exploration of the relationship between the human experience and the natural world.

• Howard's early life was marked by his family's relocation to Berkeley, California, where his father served as a supervising architect at the University of California.
• He enrolled in the University of California, focusing on journalism, with hopes of becoming a writer.
• A pivotal encounter with a Giorgione altarpiece in Venice and meeting painter Grant Wood in Paris shifted his interest towards painting.

Artistic Career and Influences

's artistic journey was influenced by his time in Paris, where he met Grant Wood, and later, his involvement with the influential art dealer Julien Levy's exhibition, which introduced European surrealism to the United States. Notably, he lectured on Surrealism at the California School of Fine Arts alongside Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, and poet Georges Lemaitre.

• His work was featured in the landmark exhibition by Julien Levy, marking a significant moment in American art history.
• Howard's style, characterized by its exploration of the unconscious and biomorphic expressionism, reflects his unique blend of European influences and American avant-garde spirit.

Legacy and Later Life

's later years were marked by his settling in England and then Italy, where he passed away in 1978. His legacy as a pioneer of American surrealism endures, with his work continuing to inspire new generations of artists.

• Explore more on Charles Houghton Howard's art at Wikioo.org's Charles Joseph Houghton Howard page.
• Delve into the world of Surrealism with Wikioo.org's Top 5 Famous Surrealism Artists of All Time.