Charles Wilkin: Uncovering the intangibles that makes us human

Charles Wilkin is an artist and beekeeper based in Narrowsburg, New York.

Wilkin is one of the artists who propelled collage in the 90s and early 2000s. With Index A, the monograph published by Gestalten in 2003, his personal way of combining found elements, photography, drawing, and handwriting became iconic, turning into a template for a new generation of artists working with found material. But Charles' path did not end here. Rather than repeating what had made him known worldwide, he decided to continue on a personal quest for a form of producing art that connects with his deepest concerns and interests.

From there, Wilkin strove to use collage as a means of uncovering the beauty and empathy that lie hidden within us all, revealing intangible aspects of what makes us human. Movement, depth, and a tactile feel are some of the features found in his work, which, despite utilizing vintage imagery, possesses a timeless quality and a highly personal touch.

He is one of our all-time favorites, so we caught up with him to discuss his work, life, beekeeping and music.