Charles Tuggle
Born in:
Chicago, IL
Lives and works in:
San Francisco, CA
Charles Tuggle’s artistic practice is rooted in a personal journey of seeking visibility and meaning. As a youth, he found refuge in the library, where books opened up vast worlds—teaching, military service, artistry, medicine, African history, philosophy, literature, and the allure of travel—that helped shape his understanding of self and purpose. This early hunger for knowledge continues to inform his creative exploration.
Working primarily in collage and painting, Tuggle constructs layered compositions that highlight overlooked moments in American history. Rather than presenting linear narratives, his work invites reflection, encouraging viewers to engage both consciously and subconsciously. Each piece becomes a dialogue between individual memory and collective experience.
Tuggle’s art is a tribute to the resilience of marginalized communities. With reverence and care, he confronts the erasure of histories while celebrating their enduring presence. His practice transforms fragments into unified expressions, honoring lives and stories too often left untold.
San Francisco. 2023.
Hot Jazz, 2022.
Asian-American Struggles. 2022.
San Francisco Night, 2023.
San Salvador, 2024.
Black Cinema 1920s-1950s, 2021.