Charles received a BFA in sculpture at the University of North Texas in 1989. He worked at Hiram Butler Gallery in Houston, Texas from 1988 to 1991 and Jamison Thomas Gallery in Portland, OR from 1992 to 1995 before opening Froelick Gallery in 1995.
Charles is an active member of the Portland arts community. Since 2012, he has served as a board member of the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts. Charles served as president of the Portland Art Dealer’s Association (PADA) from 2008 to 2010 and as a board member from 2004 to 2010. Charles worked with the Friends of the Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts, at the Portland Art Museum, from 1999 to 2003 as a member of the Board of Advisors as well as President from 2001 to 2003. He also served on the Regional Arts & Culture Council’s Public Art Advisory Committee in Portland from 1994 to 1999. Additionally, Charles was a committee volunteer for the Cascade AIDS Project Annual Art Auction from 1996 to 1998 and aided in the coordination of art donations for the foundation.
In 2013, Charles was named “One of the city’s iconic gallery owners” in a profile by the Oregon Business Journal. The article can be viewed online here.
Charles credits much of his success to his long-standing and strong relationships with both artists and clients as well as his enthusiasm and great appreciation for the artists that his gallery represents.
Photo: Tyler Thompson