CHESSÉ ARTS LTD.

A site about the Chessé family of artists

RALPH CHESSÉ1900-1991
Painter, Sculptor, Puppeteer

See a portfolio of Ralph Chessé's artwork

Ralph Chessé was the patriarch of a large creative family. He was a Renaissance man in the grandest sense with diverse interests in the arts: theater, sculpture and painting. His artwork spanned almost the entire 20th century. Before 1950 Chessé painted African American figures in scenes recalling his boyhood in New Orleans, in socially realist depictions of dock workers, and in religious themed motifs derived from the Bible. In 1953, the success of his television program "Brother Buzz", the longest sustaining children's program in SF's television history (1953-1969) brought him a financial independence he had not ever had in his lifetime. It afforded him an opportunity to travel to Europe in 1956 where he could revel in the culture of Europe and see for the first time, in person, the Paris of the impressionists which so greatly influenced him as a young man. It changed his style of painting and brought him back to the easel, from which he had retreated late in the 40's. From that point on he painted nonstop until he was 91 leaving behind a large legacy of art.

The estate is represented by
Spencer Jon Helfin Fine Arts

Ralph Chessé with Masks 1928

BRUCE CHESSÉ Bruce Chessé is an internationaly known puppeteer and a pioneer in the area of Puppetry in Education. His brother Dion and he were major figures in the San Francisco little theater scene in the 50's 60's and 70's where they also created venues for their father to perform.

Oregon Puppet Theater
Puppet Concepts Publishing



Ralph Chessé's painting to the left
shows his son Bruce and his daughter Renée.

Bruce & Renée
1940

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