Charlie Newton

I am making paintings that psychologically de-construct the Diaspora for me producing healing imagery that is frenetic yet quiet and filled with movement and energy. The support may consists of many colors, heavy impasto , multiple and overlapping images and sometimes found and created objects organized in such a way as to imply ritual and spirituality. Color and brush stroke create passages throughout the surface and composition to lead the eye around and through the painting establishing a visual dialogue with the viewer about culture and spirituality. Often psychological content may be established via the organization of splotches of color, geometric shapes or designs, which I refer to as ‘cultural chips’, (these chips are condensed archetypes that are historical, sometimes personal but always universal), line and organization of the support and surface. The figure, be it human or not, creates an open dialogue about faith, spirituality and emotion. Currently I am working on “History Paintings” that address the lost culture of African Americans. I am attempting to recover culture through DNA memories embedded in the physiology of the human soul.


Newton an African American artist has painted professionally for over 55 ...

(1987) MFA, Painting, Norfolk State & Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
(1975) BA, Fine Arts, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN

Selected exhibitions include:
(2022) Stove Works Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
(2018) AVA Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
(2017) Athens Arts Council, Athens, TN
The Decatur Artway III, Decatur, Georgia
(2015) Exum Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
(2014) 20" x 20" x 20" Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
(2013) Go Figure, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
PCPC Arts Festival, Dallas Texas
2010 Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Retrospective Exhibition, Chattanooga, TN
(1990) Wakefield Community College, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
(1987) CBN University, Virginia Beach, VA
(1985) Art America Gallery, Norfolk, VA