Chuck Close

Date of Birth: July 5, 1940

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: August 19, 2021

Biography

Chuck Thomas Close was an American painter, artist, and photographer known for his massive-scale portraits. He was born in Monroe, Washington, and despite facing severe learning disabilities and physical ailments throughout his life, he became an influential figure in the contemporary art world. Close is particularly celebrated for his highly detailed, large-scale portraits that often verge on photorealism. Close’s early years were marked by struggles with dyslexia, which made traditional schooling difficult. However, his artistic talents were evident from a young age. He received his B.A. from the University of Washington in 1962 and his M.F.A. from Yale University in 1964, where he studied alongside other notable artists of his generation. In 1988, Close suffered a spinal artery collapse that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite this life-altering event, he continued to create art, adapting his technique to accommodate his physical limitations by using a brush strapped to his wrist. Close’s work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide, and he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts.

5 Interesting Facts about Chuck Close

1. Chuck Close was diagnosed with prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, which ironically led him to focus on creating portraits.

2. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 2000.

3. Close was known for his meticulous grid method, where he would divide a photograph into a grid and replicate it on a larger canvas square by square.

4. Despite being paralyzed from the neck down, Close developed innovative techniques to continue painting, using custom-made brushes and tools.

5. His works are part of the permanent collections of major art institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Tate Modern in London.