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Charles Arnoldi Art

American, b. 1946

Charles Arnoldi was born in 1946 in Dayton, Ohio. He has become a popular California artist best known for his brightly colored abstract paintings and prints that incorporate the use of wood as an expressive medium, often using tree branches and twigs. Arnoldi lives in Malibu and has had considerable financial success and celebrity attention.

Arnoldi arrived in Southern California in 1965 and spent two years at Ventura Junior College before receiving a full scholarship to the Art Center School in Los Angeles. He only lasted two weeks at his new school before becoming frustrated with limitations imposed upon him as an illustrator. Arnoldi soon enrolled at the Chouinard Art Institute and gained immediate recognition for his skill when he received a Los Angeles County Museum of Art talent award.

Arnoldi experimented with various painting techniques and struggled to find a solid interpretation of his artistic vision. He began to use branches and twigs to make up the lines within his paintings — "building" a painting with them. His earliest works were almost classic in their simplicity and shape, resembling woven stick baskets delicately balanced. Arnoldi concentrated on his twig painting for eight years, constructing many different forms, freestanding structures, sticks and string, twigs taped together densely or openly.

In 1977, Arnoldi had one of his small stick structures created in bronze. It was his first metal sculpture, and he found that the metal gave permanence to his wooden structures. In the 1980s color started to become more important to Arnoldi, and he used bright pigments to give even more definition to his three-dimensional pieces. He also started to paint on canvas, always reflecting the elements of his wood paintings.

In 1980, Arnoldi painted his interpretation of the logjam that occurred as a result of the Mount St. Helens volcano eruption. He juxtaposed his earth-toned canvas against a similar painting created entirely of sticks, mimicking the image on the painted canvas. He was constantly redefining his artistic approaches, and in the late 1980s started working with large plywood sheets. He glued the layered sheets together, deconstructed the piece using a chainsaw to cut jagged scars into the wood, and then painted it. He was now involved in a new process of building up and tearing down. His ever-evolving style took yet another direction when he started using heavy blocks of wood brightly painted and mounted on the wall. He made a point of preserving the integrity of wood by not sanding away any exposed grain.

In the 1990s Arnoldi departed from the rigidity of his wood creations by painting on canvas. His paintings from this period are predominantly black and white and display free-flowing organic shapes like twists and loops with a sense of motion not seen before in his work.

Arnoldi's work has been exhibited throughout his career in many solo and group shows. His first one-man show was at the Riko Mizuno Gallery in Los Angeles in 1971 and subsequent solo exhibitions followed at the James Corcoran Gallery in Los Angeles, (1980–85), and the Arts Club of Chicago, Illinois (1986). His group exhibitions include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1983), the Brooklyn Museum (1986) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (1992).

Find original Charles Arnoldi art on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by Joseph Grossman Fine Art)

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First Rights
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Charles Arnoldi, is an American painter, sculptor and printmaker. He was born April 10, 1946 in Dayton, Ohio. Charles Arnoldi has been described as an artist who “draws in space” to...
Category

2010s Abstract Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic

Tumble
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Charles Arnoldi, is an American painter, sculptor and printmaker. He was born April 10, 1946 in Dayton, Ohio. Charles Arnoldi has been described as an artist who “draws in space” to...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Charles Arnoldi California Artist Signed Limited Edition Abstract Art Lithograph
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful geometric, abstract offset lithograph by American/California Los Angeles artist Charles Arnoldi. This work is titled "IV" and is from a series of abstract prints he made...
Category

Early 2000s American Modern Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Paper

UNTITLED
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Portland, ME
Arnoldi, Charles (American, born 1946). UNTITLED. Etching and aquatint in colors, 1982. Edition of 5, printed at Teaberry Press, San Francisco, with their blindstamps, lower left and...
Category

1980s Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

UNTITLED
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Portland, ME
Arnoldi, Charles (American, born 1946). UNTITLED. Etching and aquatint in colors, 1982. Edition of 5, printed at Teaberry Press, San Francisco, with their blindstamps, lower left and...
Category

1980s Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered XXVIII 65/115 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Sign...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Offset

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered XXVI 10/40 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signat...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Offset

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered VI 6/6 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signature:...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Offset

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered XXIX 12/30 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signatu...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Offset

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered VII 4/5 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signature...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Offset

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered XXIX 54/115 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signat...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

Materials

Offset

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H 40 in W 36.125 in
Charles Arnoldi Untitled #58, 1983
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Charles Arnoldi untitled 58/70. 1983. Colored woodcut on black paper this piece is signed, numbered and has been custom framed.
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Late 20th Century American Modern Charles Arnoldi Art

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Charles Arnoldi Untitled #58, 1983
Charles Arnoldi Untitled #58, 1983
H 50 in W 39 in D 1.25 in
Ram
By Charles Arnoldi
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acrylic on canvas b. 1946, Dayton, Ohio Since his breakthrough structures made out of branches in the late ‘70s, Charles Arnoldi has worked in numerous styles and media, from charc...
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Ram
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H 56.75 in W 56.75 in D 1.75 in
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acrylic on canvas b. 1946, Dayton, Ohio Since his breakthrough structures made out of branches in the late ‘70s, Charles Arnoldi has worked in numerous styles and media, from charc...
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Soriano
H 50.5 in W 45.5 in D 1.75 in
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Charles Arthur Arnoldi (b. 1956) Untitled, 2007 Lithograph in colors on wove paper Sheet: 28in H x 25in L Signed, numbered and dated in pencil along lower edge L. P. Edition 1 out of 5 Float mounted and framed under acrylic, 35in. H x 32in. L x 1in W In hues of rich greens and black, this print is exemplary of Arnoldi's 'Arc' series. Claiming, “I’m just trying to make art with some sense of dignity, and honesty, and integrity,” Charles Arnoldi has been blurring the boundaries between painting and sculpture...
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Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Santa Monica, CA
WOODCUT  on handmade Kinwashi rice paper
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Untitled
Untitled
H 18 in W 30.75 in D 3 in
Charles Arnoldi, Untitled, Signed Limited Edition Print
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Rafael, CA
Charles Arnoldi Untitled (from Three American Artists) 1982 Etching and aquatint in colors on wove paper, limited edition numbered 50/50. Signed in pencil by the artist on front lower right ‘Arnoldi’ and dated ‘82’. Published by Centrum Press , Port Townsend...
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Late 20th Century Abstract Charles Arnoldi Art

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Aquatint, Etching

Untitled
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered XXIX 14/30 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signatu...
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Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

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Untitled
Untitled
H 27.15 in W 27.15 in D 1 in
Untitled
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Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Charles Arnoldi (American, born 1931) Title: Untitled Year: 2001 Medium: Off set lithograph Edition: Numbered IV 2/13 in pencil Image size: 17 x 17 inches Signature:...
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Late 20th Century Abstract Geometric Charles Arnoldi Art

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Untitled
Untitled
H 27.15 in W 27.15 in D 1 in
Important Charles Arnoldi Wood Construction - Signed and Dated
By Charles Arnoldi
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Charles Arnoldi (American, b. 1946.) Title: This Night is Over Painted wood construction. Signed and dated ARNOLDI 1988, retains artist's label verso. 94 H X 84 W X 9 Constructed in two parts that hang together. Provenance: Exhibited : James Corcoran Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 1989, ART/LA, Los Angeles, California, 1989, Los Angeles Modern Auction, Los Angeles, California, May 19, 2013, Private collector, Los Angeles, Fat Chance...
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1980s American Modern Vintage Charles Arnoldi Art

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Charles Arnoldi 'Chuck" Acrylic Painting on Plywood/Wall Sculpture, Signed
By Charles Arnoldi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charles Arnoldi, well-known American, contemporary artist based in Los Angeles. He is known for is assemblages of wood and painted branches also for his late geometric work. Studio l...
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1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Charles Arnoldi Art

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Acrylic, Plywood

Charles Arnoldi art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Charles Arnoldi art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Charles Arnoldi in offset print, acrylic paint, aquatint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Charles Arnoldi art, so small editions measuring 18 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Marko Spalatin, Thomas W. Benton, and Emily Joyce. Charles Arnoldi art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $112,000, while the average work can sell for $1,200.

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