Charley Harper: The Coral Reef 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) The Coral Reef Wildlife artist Charley Harper illustrated numerous books and created works for many conservation organizations, including the Audubon Society and the National Park Service, for which The Coral Reef was produced. Harper’s work was often whimsical, but he depicted flora and fauna authentically—as he did here—with enough detail in shape, line, and color that you could identify each, if you wished. We suggest putting the 1,000 pieces together, first.

Charley Harper

Midcentury modernist Charley Harper (American, 1922–2007) portrayed the natural world with heart and humor. In vivid colors and simple shapes, his cardinals, ladybugs, and clever critters have become icons of wildlife art. His illustrations were published in magazines and books, notably Ford Times and The Giant Golden Book of Biology. A longtime conservationist, Harper created posters for more than 50 nature- and conservation-oriented organizations. His US National Park Service posters—massive, requiring a year each to paint—showcase delightful depictions of entire ecosystems in a style he defined as “minimal realism.” In his adopted hometown of Cincinnati, his public works are the legacy of an artist truly beguiled by the wild, one whose art was a quiet catalyst for ecological action.