Charles Wysocki (American, 1928-2002)

Paintings

Charles Wysocki Painting Values

Who was painter Charles Wysocki?

Charles Wysocki was an American painter best known for his stylized depictions of a bygone era of American life. Wysocki painted a time period that was already nostalgic, even during his time. That said, his work was devoured by the general public, especially for the last few decades of his life. His work appears on countless prints, calendars, and other collectibles. While he may not have enjoyed the critical acclaim of some of his contemporaries, there is no doubt that Wysocki connected with something in the American zeitgeist. His work was rarely accepted into the larger or more prestigious galleries, but Wysocki’s sales dwarf many of his more critically acclaimed contemporaries. He is the subject of several retrospectives, including the book, An American Celebration: The Art of Charles Wysocki (1985).

What kind of art did Charles Wysocki make?

Charles Wysocki made commercial art and advertisements for the majority of his career. He studied to be a commercial illustrator and worked in that field for several decades at the start of his career. His work would change sometime around 1960, when he and his new wife moved to the San Fernando Valley, where Wysocki began to experiment with American folk art forms. These new paintings often depicted the America of a bygone time. His most famous work was his Americana calendar, which has been produced every year since 1971. It was for this work that he would eventually win a Medal of Honor from The Daughters of the American Revolution in 1987. US Art named Charles Wysocki one of the ten most influential artists for decades, culminating in him winning Master Artist from the publication in 1999.

How did painter Charles Wysocki get started?

Charles Wysocki was born in Detroit in 1928 to a pair of Polish immigrants. Money was always a problem for the family, but the opportunities that America gave were a huge inspiration to the young Wysocki. It was this attitude that began to foster his feelings of patriotism and celebration of his homeland -- themes that would be explored thoroughly in Wysocki’s later work. He enrolled at the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles in the early 1950s, getting a degree in commercial art. He returned to Detroit where he worked for four years at an agency. This lifestyle didn’t agree with him, and Wysocki returned to California in the 1960s with his new wife, Elizabeth. While vacationing, Elizabeth encouraged Charles to experiment with more traditional folk forms. This shift would mark the start of Wysocki’s commercial success, which started in the 1970s and continued until his death in 2002.

How much are Charles Wysocki paintings worth?

Charles Wysocki’s paintings are worth between $1,000 and $60,000 when they come up at auction.. On the high end, several of Wysoci’s paintings have sold for $20,000 or more. The most ever paid for a Charles Wysocki painting is $60,000 for the piece Olde Bucks County (date unknown) which sold on January 24th, 2020. This was three times the high estimate for that piece, proving that there is still much value to be had in Wysocki’s paintings. While he hasn’t enjoyed the same critical success as some of his peers, it’s hard to argue with his commercial success -- Wysocki was one of the most popular commercial painters of the late 20th century.

Where to buy Charles Wysocki paintings for sale?

See the works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on the artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Charles Wysocki paintings?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.