Page 30 - Imagination: The Art of Charles Keeling Lassiter

The Art of Charles Keeling Lassiter
Ronald K. Parker, Ph.D

In art collecting, one must answer two questions - Why? And what? The "why" I
collect is easy to answer. My reasons for collecting are the excitement of discovery,
aesthetic joy, intellectual stimulation, financial rewards, and the pleasure of sharing
art with others.

"What" art Yvonne and I collect is very idiosyncratic. We are searching for artists that
bring a fresh perspective to painting and drawing, because so much contemporary
art lacks imagination and creativity. Most art today is derivative of other artists and
lacks any inventiveness. We collect art that is exciting, engaging and moving.

Lassiter represents one of the best examples of a 20th century artist who exemplified
everything that I think is critical in great art. In a word, his is a vision of greatness -
imagination, inventiveness, and inspiration. The breadth and depth of his artistic
expressions - drawing, painting, sculpting and photography - thoroughly validate his
genius.

Lassiter's reputation was earned on pure merit. MoMA recognized his talent when he
was in his late 20s by including him in a group show of contemporary art. His work
has since been added to major museum collections in America (The Metropolitan
Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, The Carnegie Museum, etc.) and Europe (e.g.,
Museum of L'Art Brut). He has exhibited internationally in major venues and important
galleries. Critical essays abound, highlighting his importance to contemporary art.
The scholarly book, "Metamorphoses into the Future," was published in Switzerland in
1990, covering 40 years of his creations. An opus covering the best 50 years of
Lassiter will be published in 2018.