Highlights: "Naturally Connected: Charley Harper and the Department of the Interior"

American artist Charley Harper (1922–2007) distilled his observations of nature into bold, highly stylized designs that have remained timeless in their appeal. Naturally Connected reflected on Harper's artistic legacy and its connections to many facets of the Interior's mission, the symbiotic work of Interior’s bureaus, and inter-connectivity within the natural world. The exhibition featured 43 Harper serigraphs from the Interior Museum’s collection, plus 26 loaned materials from the Charley Harper Art Studio, including Harper’s personal drafting tools and two rare color studies for the National Park poster series. The exhibition was on view from February 13 through May 8, 2017.

  • "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    View of the title panel and opening vitrine
    View of the title panel and opening vitrine
    U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, 2017.

    "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    This gallery view shows the title wall, introductory panel, opening vitrine, and six serigraphs from the Interior Museum's exhibition, Naturally Connected: Charley Harper and the Department of the Interior, on view from February 13 through May 8, 2017.  

  • "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    A vitrine with several small models of birds and gallery walls with interpretive panels and six works of art
    A vitrine with several small models of birds and gallery walls with interpretive panels and six works of art
    U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, 2017.

    "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    This section of the exhibition contained several original Charley Harper serigraphs depicting protected species, as well as a vitrine with models of birds adapted from Harper's works. The decorative wall panels contained the names of species of flora and fauna listed as threatened or endangered.

  • "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    Gallery view with six Charley Harper serigraphs and a vitrine with models of fish.
    Gallery view with six Charley Harper serigraphs and a vitrine with models of fish.
    U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, 2017.

    "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    This view of the Naturally Connected exhibition includes six original Charley Harper serigraphs, an interpretive panel about pollinators, and a vitrine with four small models of fish based upon Harper's artwork.

  • "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    Gallery wall with prints of three of the Charley Harper posters created for the National Park Service.
    Gallery wall with prints of three of the Charley Harper posters created for the National Park Service.
    U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, 2017.

    "Naturally Connected" Exhibition

    This area of the exhibition highlighted Charley Harper's work creating a poster series for the National Park Service.

  • View of the title panel and opening vitrine
  • A vitrine with several small models of birds and gallery walls with interpretive panels and six works of art
  • Gallery view with six Charley Harper serigraphs and a vitrine with models of fish.
  • Gallery wall with prints of three of the Charley Harper posters created for the National Park Service.