RALPH CHESSÉ
1900 - 1991

Painter, Sculptor, Puppeteer

from left to right top panel

Ralph Chessé at 27
Ralph Chessé at 37
Ralph Chessé at 47
Ralph Chessé at 61
Ralph Chessé at 70

Captain Midnight's Family
Self-portrait with son Dion, and Captain Midnight.
1986 (Ralph Chessé at 87)

Ralph Chessé was strongly influenced by what he saw and experienced. His boyhood in New Orleans was a source for imagery during his whole life. His involvement with the theater both as an actor and a puppeteer also made its way into his paintings and was a creative endeavor on its own. Although he only painted one work for the WPA his paintings in from the 1940's are considered California Labor School. Bible stories played an important source of subject matter. Visits to Europe , the San Francisco 1960's scene and the move to Ashland, Oregon further influenced his work. See the different series by clicking on the links to the left.

The estate is represented by
Spencer Jon Helfin Fine Arts

Prints and drawings available at
Artspace Gallery
Bay City OR 
503 377-2782

More self-portraits and photographs coming soon

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