Biography

Jean Charlot, 1898-1979, was a distinguished artist, teacher, art historian, and playwright. He was born in Paris and moved to Mexico in 1921, where he played an instrumental role in the Mexican Mural Renaissance, completing the movement's first mural in true fresco in 1922-1923. After working as an  illustrator for an archeological expedition in the Chich’en Itza, Mexico, he came to the United States in 1928, where he worked as an artist, professor, and writer; moving to Hawaii in 1949. The prolific Charlot created 74 murals and monumental sculptures; over 1200 oil paintings; 772 original prints; 51 published books, plays and portfolios; many illustrations for books; and numerous scholarly and popular articles.

Among the honors bestowed on Charlot was the election by the Royal Society of Art, London, as a Benjamin Franklin Fellow in 1972.  In 1976, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature presented Charlot with the Order of Distinction for Cultural Leadership.  In June of that year, Charlot was among a distinguished group of persons recognized by the Living Treasure Committee, sponsored by the Living Treasure Committee, sponsored by Honpa Hongwanji Mission, for "contributions to Hawaiʻi's culture and the preservation of Hawaiiana."  Charlot, known as "Palani" or Frenchman among his Hawaiian friends, was named a "Living Treasure" for his paintings and murals showing his deep appreciation of Hawaiʻi's culture.

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