Chester Charles was born in 1855 and died in 1949. He was undiscovered in his time. The work displayed here was discovered by a Cleveland antique store owner at a suburban estate sale. Found in an attic, the works created a social media frenzy.

He has since been called “The Lost Grand Master,” for while his work rivals the impressionist masters of the day, Charles’ work was never displayed during his lifetime. His paintings depicted the queer gaze in a time when merely being contemplated as gay could lead to blackmail, arrest, and ruin. 

Presented in totality for the first time, we show Charles’ work throughout the decades. His base of experience with impressionist styles slowly emerges into more colorful and modern work. Each piece is presented with a curatorial overview and a copy of any inscriptions found on the paintings.