Charles Radtke (born 1964) is a
studio furniture maker working in
Cedarburg, Wisconsin. His focus is design, rarely if ever repeating an object. His work is found primarily in
private collections, with the exception of his Sarcophagus #1 residing in
permanent collection
A museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. This differentiates it from an archive or library, where the contents may be more paper-based, repla ...
in the
Renwick Gallery of the
Smithsonian Art Museum in
Washington, DC and in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The piece that is part of the collection in Boston, is on display at Milwaukee Art Museum, April 19, 2019 – August 25, 2019 as part of his exhibition:
Charles Radtke: Contained
Born and raised in
Hermann, Missouri, he is the youngest of 10 children. His mother was a teacher, and his father a butcher/merchant. Charley committed to the vocation of
woodworking in his twenties after finishing his
computer science degree and working for
AT&T for three years.
While in college and while working for AT&T, he worked with the
Franciscan Friars in
Oak Brook, Illinois, in their furniture shop. There he learned the basics of furniture construction, making what he describes as “heavy-handed furniture in a Gothic style.” Radtke joined a liturgical art group called
Seraph, (
seraph is the highest power of angel) where he designed pieces for several prominent churches in
Chicago,
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
, and
Mundelein, Il
Mundelein is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and a northern suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 31,560. It is approximately thirty-five miles northwest of Chicago.
History
The community now known as M ...
.
He honed his skills while in
Washington, DC, then setting up his own studios in
Colorado, and
southern Illinois, using each stop to master his design vernacular and illuminate his own unique woodworking aesthetic.
In July 1994, Radtke, his wife Chris and daughter Chloe moved to
Cedarburg, Wisconsin, where he built his current studio.
His work is most often described as contemporary, focused mainly on
cabinets
A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countrie ...
but also includes tables, chairs and pedestals. He is most well known for his attention to detail, his use of hand, rather than machine, work (
dovetailing,
planing,
carving and
finishing) and his preference for native American
hardwoods. Influences that are apparent are
Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann,
Carl Malmsten
Carl Malmsten (December 7, 1888 – August 13, 1972) was a Swedish furniture designer, architect, and educator who was known for his devotion to traditional Swedish craftmanship (''slöjd'') and his opposition to functionalism. He "considered ...
,
Charles Rennie MacIntosh, and
Wharton Esherick.
Rather than doing multiples of the same design, Radtke prefers to work in series, taking a design concept allowing the different woods and slightly different viewpoints to help the execution of the piece evolve. Radtke's Sarcophagus #1 was purchased in 1999 with funds from a private collector, for permanent collection in the
Smithsonian Art Museum's Renwick Gallery. This cabinet is the first in the Sarcophagus Series that stretches 5 deep as of the end of 2009. His other Series work includes Inner Light (9 pieces), Music Cabinet (2 pieces), Weave (1 piece), Twins (1 piece), and Leaf Series (3).
References
External links
Charles Radtke WebsiteCharles Radtke at the SmithsonianCharles Radtke Contained at the Milwaukee Art MuseumCharles Radtke at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
See also
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Radtke, Charles
1964 births
Living people
American woodworkers
American furniture designers
American furniture makers
Artists from Missouri
Artists from Wisconsin
People from Cedarburg, Wisconsin
People from Hermann, Missouri