Like Father, Like Son

Beginning in January, come see the exhibit “Like Father, Like Son: The Western Art of Paul and Chris Calle,” held in the Booth Museum’s Theatre Lobby Gallery from January 8 to March 30. This exhibition includes more than 20 works of art by famed Western artist Paul Calle and his talented son Chris.

Paul’s depictions of mountain men in both oil and pencil are highly prized by collectors. His depictions of explorers of new frontiers extend from high elevations to space travel. He is a celebrated visual historian whose award-winning illustrations have chronicled America’s heritage. As a master painter and draftsman, he has documented the exploration of space in NASA’s fine art program and in 1969, he was commissioned by the United States Postal Service to create a stamp honoring the moon landing. Two paintings commemorating the 25th anniversary of this event are also among his 37 memorable stamp designs. His work has been exhibited nationally and abroad at the National Gallery of Art, the National Air and Space Museum, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and in museums in Russia and Poland. Two books have been written about him and his work: The Pencil and Paul Calle: An Artist’s Journey.

Chris has followed in his father’s footsteps by drawing mountain men, but has also made a name for himself as a designer of postage stamps with more than 200 stamps in circulation. He became interested in wildlife at a very early age and often went with his father to observe and sketch nature. Early on in his career, he decided to begin a series of original lithographs on endangered species that was prompted by his concern for the environment and the unfortunate destiny of the many species disappearing from the earth. Chris's wildlife art is exhibited widely and has done many assignments for the National Wildlife Federation, Reader's Digest, and NASA. Following in his father’s footsteps, Chris designed the stamp design for the 20th Anniversary of the first landing on the moon. He and his father also worked together on the 25th Anniversary of the Moon Landing stamp design.

In addition to work by each artist, collaborative projects will also be on display.
The Calles will serve as the Featured Artists for the 5th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering, March 6 – 9, and will provide the keynote lecture on the evening of March 6.

© Paul Calle, Beyond the Ridge, oil on canvas, 2003, 30.25 x 47.5"