Artwork by Charla Steele

Charla Steele’s collage work plays off of her interior design background and her daughter, MacKenzie’s (Kenzie) barnyard nursery theme. Using the various magazine collections in her home, Charla was able to capitalize on the rich color, text and uniqueness of magazine pages as well as benefit her personal recycling effort. The original simplicity began to evolve, mature, and incorporate a variety of universally pleasing subjects.

Each collage is crafted by carefully selecting magazine pages with extraordinary color, depth and texture.  The papers are cut into “mosaic-like” shapes or run through a paper shredder, layered onto a substrate then wrapped onto the edges.  Once the image is complete, a thick coating is applied to enhance the vibrancy of the image and “bring it to life”.  The charm of Charla’s work lies within her ability to capture common subject matter and give it a jovial yet sophisticated personality by redefining the original intention of her medium.

Today, Charla’s work continues to address the importance of adding shear pleasure to our complicated, busy lifestyles.  Putting it simply - she creates work to make people smile.  Influenced by her interior design background and dealing with spatial elements, Charla’s recent work explores the power of three dimensionality. Her vibrant and textural wall “sculptures” are a progression towards a larger series of more complex wall art.

Biography

Born in Ohio, Charla moved to Tennessee in 1988 to study Interior Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  The challenges involved in her 15 years of interior design experience carry certain formal processes into her art that allow her to build three dimensional works using an unconventional medium. She received the "Best of Show Award" in 2011 and the “Invitational Award” in 2010 at the Dayton Art Institute’s Oktoberfest.  She was commissioned by The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville to create a “self portrait” of the Inn.  Charla exhibits in a wide range of art fairs and has a consistent following of national collectors.  She currently lives and works in Nashville, TN. 

Original works, open edition matted, and commissioned pieces are available.  Please contact Charla Steele at 615.428.1408 or contact us for more information.