Charles Apt

Biography

Charles Apt is a native of New York City. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute. His early artistic development was influenced by his grandfather, Sam Lumiere, a world renowned portrait photographer and his mother, Tami Apt, a designer of fashion and fine jewelry. An early stint as an illustrator was followed by a 2-year painting sojourn in Europe. Charles returned to New York to continue painting and later held his first gallery showing in New York. As a result of this showing, wider recognition became apparent when he was invited to do a series of thoroughbred paintings to be exhibited at the Aqueduct Race Track. Subsequently, he had a one-man show of paintings and drawings of the race at the Aqueduct Gallery. An exhibition at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga resulted in the "Best of Show" award for his painting, "The Railbirds".

Later, the commitment of a "one-man show" at the Grand Central Gallery in New York City, of the life and people of Portugal, took Charles and his family for two summers to Europe.

After returning to the United States, he continued to receive many awards such as the "Le Prix Prince Souverain" for a painting now in the collection of Prince Rainier from Monaco. Charles received the prestigious Benjamin Altman Award from The National Academy of Design. 

Charles, who characterizes his work as contemporary realism, has exhibited his work over 60 years in national and international shows and museums. He has had many one-man exhibitions, and has taught at The National Academy of Design and The Art Students' League of New York. 

He was elected Academician of the National Academy. His work has appeared in numerous art books and publications such as Arts Magazine and American Artist. His is profiled in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who in American Art.

After spending many years in New York City, Charles established a new studio in Southern California, where he now works and resides with his wife, Ursula.

Awards, Exhibits & Publications

Awards

• American Veterans Society Artists Gold Medal 1965

• American Artists Professional League 1st Prize 1965

• Hudson Valley Artist Association Honorable Mention 1966

• American Artists Professional League Talens Award 1966

• Salmugundi Club New York Franklin B. Williams Award 1966, 1968

• Saratoga Museum of Racing Best Show Award 1967

• National Academy of Design Benjamin Altman Award, Figure Painting 1968

• Expn. Intercontinentale Monaco France Le Prix Prince Souverain, Monaco

• Allied Artists of America Honorable Mention 1970

• Salmugundi Club New York Salmugundi Club Prize 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971

• American Watercolor Society Bronze Medal 1971

• National Arts Club Sutherland Prize 1971

• Salmugundi Club New York Ject-Key Prize 1971

• Resource Council of America 1st Prize "Product Design Award" 1984

• National Academy of Design Walter Biggs Memorial Award 1989

Exhibits

• Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield Massachusetts 1966

• Expn. Intercontinentale Monaco France 1966, 1968

• National Academy of Design 1965, 1968

• National Academy of Design 1977-1989

• National Academy of Design 1989-2007

• American Watercolor Society 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969

• Allied Artists of America 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972

• Pastel Society of America 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972

• National Museum of Racing, Saratoga, New York 1967

• Atlantic City Race Track 1967

• National Arts Club 1967, 1971

One-Man-Shows & Group Shows

• Ground Floor Art Gallery, New York, One-Man-Shows: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 + Group Shows

• Eileen Kulick Gallery, New York, Group Shows: 1960s

• Capricorn Gallery, Bethesda Maryland, Group Show: 1960s

• Aqueduct Race Track Art Gallery, New York, One-Man-Show: 1967

• Grand Central Art Galleries, New York, One-Man-Show: 1969 + Group Shows

• Far Gallery, New York, One-Man-Show: 1972, 1978 + Group Shows

• Talisman Gallery, Bartlesville Oklahoma, One-Man-Show: 1976 + Group Shows

• Gallery 52, South Orange New Jersey, One-Man-Show: 1976, 1977 + Group Shows

• Palm Beach Galleries, Palm Beach Florida, One-Man-Show: 1973

• Maxwell Gallery, San Francisco California, Group Show: 1980s

• Hammer Gallery, New York, Group Show: 1980s

• Sandra Wilson Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico, Group Show: 1980s

• Margie Bobker Gallery, Group Shows: 1981-1988 + One-Man-Show: 1987

• Loring Gallery, Cedarhust New York, One-Man-Shows: 1981, 1985, 1987, 1992

• The Dassin Gallery, Los Angeles California, Group Shows: 1985-2008

• Loring Gallery, Sheffield Massachusetts, One-Man-Show: 2007 + Group Shows

• The Owins Gallery Collection, Santa Fe New Mexico 2017

Member

• National Arts Club 1970-1990

• Salmugundi Club New York 1970-1990

• National Academy of Design (Academician) 1972-Present

• Artists Equity Association of New York 1980-2000

Publications

• "Charles Apt in Portugal" American Artist Magazine, 1970 April

• "Charles Apt Painter" ARTS Magazine, 1978 October

• "Merging Artistic Careers" House Beautiful, 1985 February

• Who's Who in America

• Who's Who in American Art

• Who's Who in the World

• Prize Winning Paintings, Vol.6