Artwork copyright Carl Chew. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General - Seattle.

Stamps and Stories, 1985

Carl Chew
(American, born 1948)

Location: Office of the Attorney General - Seattle, Seattle

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Stamps and Stories is a collage created by artist Carl Chew. He made the composition by assembling a variety of materials, including photographs, drawings, paintings, and rubber stamps. He then photocopied the objects. He notes, "My work in Color Xerox dates back to 1976 when the first Color Xerox machine arrived in Seattle. At that time I was looking for a technique which would allow me to work at a faster pace than traditional prints. The Color Xerox machine could do just that, and I began using it to print stamps and tell stories."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with La Conner School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Seattle-based artist Carl Chew creates narrative-based artworks in a variety of materials, including art "postage" stamps, wool rugs, prints, and more. His works are characterized by their pop style, humor, and bold colors.
Chew has worked for Seattle Public Schools as a K-12 teacher in science, art, and math. He received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle.