# Chuck Close

> American artist (1940–2021)

**Wikidata**: [Q453883](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q453883)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Close)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chuck-close

## Summary
Chuck Close was an American artist renowned for his contributions to photorealism and the visual arts. Active from 1940 until his death in 2021, he was celebrated for his massive-scale portraits and self-portraits, and was a recognized painter, photographer, and printmaker.

## Biography
- **Born**: July 5, 1940
- **Died**: August 19, 2021
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**:
    - University of Washington
    - Yale School of Art
    - Yale University
    - University of Massachusetts Amherst
- **Known for**: Massive-scale portraits, photorealism, and contributions to painting, photography, and printmaking.
- **Employer(s)**: Yale University
- **Field(s)**: Visual arts, painting, fine-art photography, draftsmanship, printmaking.
- **Memberships**: American Academy of Arts and Letters, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

## Contributions
Chuck Close dedicated his career to the visual arts, with a specific focus on the genre of photorealism. His artistic output spanned multiple disciplines, including painting, fine-art photography, draftsmanship, and printmaking. He is best known for his work in portraiture, creating artistic representations of persons, as well as self-portraits and nudes. His notable works include massive-scale portraits that redefined the genre. Throughout his career, he maintained an official website at http://chuckclose.com/ to showcase his work.

## FAQs
**What artistic movements and genres is Chuck Close associated with?**
Chuck Close is primarily associated with photorealism, an art genre focused on creating works that resemble high-resolution photographs. His work also falls under the broader categories of visual arts, painting, and fine-art photography.

**Where did Chuck Close receive his education?**
Chuck Close attended several prestigious institutions, including the University of Washington, the Yale School of Art, Yale University, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

**What awards and honors did Chuck Close receive?**
Chuck Close was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. He was also a member of two major honor societies: the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

**What subjects did Chuck Close depict in his art?**
His work focused heavily on portraits, including self-portraits, as well as nudes. He was known for creating artistic representations of the human form and specific individuals.

## Why They Matter
Chuck Close matters as a pivotal figure in contemporary American art, specifically within the photorealist movement. By applying the rigorous techniques of painting, printmaking, and draftsmanship to the genre of portraiture, he expanded the possibilities for representational art in the modern era. His membership in elite institutions like the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences underscores his significant influence on American culture. His work bridged the gap between photography and painting, influencing how subsequent generations of artists approach scale and detail in figurative art.

## Notable For
- **Photorealism**: A leading figure in the art genre and movement of photorealism.
- **Multidisciplinary Practice**: Recognized as a painter, photographer, draftsperson, and printmaker.
- **Portraiture**: Renowned for his artistic representations of persons, including self-portraits and nudes.
- **National Medal of Arts**: Recipient of this prestigious award created by the United States Congress.
- **Academic Honors**: Elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- **Academic Ties**: Educated at top institutions including Yale University and the University of Washington, and employed by Yale University.
- **Scale**: Known for creating massive-scale portraits.

## Body
### Identity and Background
Chuck Close, born Charles Thomas Close, was an American artist who lived from July 5, 1940, to August 19, 2021. He was a human, a United States citizen, and a male. His professional identity was defined by his roles as a painter, photographer, draftsperson, and printmaker. He operated within the field of visual arts, creating works that were primarily visual in nature.

### Artistic Genres and Subjects
Close's work was deeply rooted in the genre of **photorealism**, an art movement characterized by its focus on creating works that resemble high-resolution photographs. His primary subject matter included:
*   **Portraits**: Artistic representations of one or more persons.
*   **Self-portraits**: Representations of the artist created by himself.
*   **Nudes**: Art genre works focusing on the unclothed human body.

He is particularly noted for his massive-scale portraits, which became a signature element of his style.

### Education and Academic Affiliations
Chuck Close had a robust academic background, having been educated at several prominent institutions:
*   **University of Washington**: A public research university in Seattle, Washington.
*   **Yale School of Art**: A private art school in New Haven, Connecticut.
*   **Yale University**: A private university in New Haven, Connecticut.
*   **University of Massachusetts Amherst**: A public university in Massachusetts.

In his professional career, he was employed by **Yale University**.

### Awards and Memberships
Close received significant recognition for his contributions to the arts.
*   **National Medal of Arts**: An award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984.
*   **American Academy of Arts and Letters**: An honor society founded in 1898.
*   **American Academy of Arts and Sciences**: A United States honorary society and policy research center founded in 1780.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Chuck Close maintained an official website at `http://chuckclose.com/`. His life and work are cataloged under numerous structured identifiers, confirming his status as a notable public figure. These include:
*   **Wikidata ID**: Q108449
*   **Library of Congress ID**: n50061466
*   **VIAF ID**: 114935366
*   **ISNI**: 0000000081833282
*   **IMDb ID**: nm0167079
*   **MusicBrainz Artist ID**: 0e277c3b-688d-467c-802a-7c8cdf0a4d46

His work and biography are extensively linked across 33 sitelinks, including his Wikipedia title "Chuck Close."

## References

1. RKDartists
2. The Fine Art Archive
3. [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/arts/design/chuck-close-artist-ofoutsized-reality-dies-at-81.html)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. BnF authorities
6. Museum of Modern Art online collection
7. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/magazine/the-mysterious-metamorphosis-of-chuck-close.html)
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. Union List of Artist Names
10. National Gallery of Art - Collection
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. CiNii Research
13. MusicBrainz
14. [Chuck Close, photographer known for photorealist portraits, dead at 81](https://nypost.com/2021/08/19/chuck-close-photographer-known-for-photorealist-portraits-dead-at-81/)
15. SNAC
16. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
17. Discogs
18. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
19. Close, Chuck
20. Proleksis Encyclopedia
21. Munzinger Personen
22. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
23. [Source](https://www.biography.com/artist/chuck-close)
24. [Source](https://new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/subway-portraits)
25. [Source](http://www.ubu.com/film/close.html)
26. [Source](https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_5)
27. [Source](https://www.documenta.de/en/retrospective/documenta_6)
28. [Source](http://whitecube.com/artists/)
29. [Source](https://www.pacegallery.com/)
30. Museum of Modern Art
31. Quora
32. DACS register
33. ADAGP directory
34. Smithsonian American Art Museum person/institution ID
35. [Source](https://ackland.emuseum.com/people/2438/chuck-close/objects)
36. [Source](https://bard.emuseum.com/people/812/chuck-close)
37. [Source](https://www.studiomuseum.org/artists/chuck-close)
38. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
39. [Source](https://pacscl.exlibrisgroup.com:48994/F/?func=find-b&request=000134441&find_code=SYS)
40. [Source](https://library.si.edu/art-and-artist-files)
41. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma99932343504896)