e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia Online

Charles Jupiter Hamilton

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Charles Jupiter Hamilton (February 4, 1948-September 21, 2021) was an American artist born in Princeton, New Jersey. Although his family moved to a working farm in North Carolina, Hamilton never warmed to the lifestyle, preferring instead to spend his time developing his drawing and painting. After a tour in the United States Navy as a Gunner's Mate Petty Officer, he continued his exploration of art at the University of North Carolina. He eventually moved to West Virginia in 1977, making Charleston his permanent home and launching his influential career as an artist.

Hamilton is known for his bold uses of line and color in a style influenced by contemporary art, his own figurative imagery, and a sharp, sarcastic sense of humor. All of these elements are blended together in what Hamilton referred to as a "new world primitivism," which some have described as the psychedelic sixties combined with indigenous art. His media has included canvas paintings, self-pulled wood block prints, wall reliefs, and wooden sculptures. Many of his murals can be seen throughout Charleston. His work has been exhibited in New York City, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., as well as in many regional exhibitions throughout West Virginia. In 2013, he produced a painting for the West Virginia State Museum, celebrating West Virginia's sesquicentennial.

A colorful and memorable character, Hamilton has led workshops for all ages, emphasizing creativity and encouraging artistic expression. His unique style has influenced many young artists. He married Rhoda Stone in 2012. In 2021, a street on Charleston’s West Side was named for him. He died as a result of exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

— Authored by Christopher Chapman

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Chapman, Christopher. "Charles Jupiter Hamilton ." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 08 February 2024. Web. Accessed: 20 September 2024.

08 Feb 2024