'PUZZLE PIECES. BUTTERFLY'

Artist Biography

Charlotte Lees is a Cleveland-born sculptor whose work transforms the elements of nature into deeply personal, expressive forms. With a strong belief that beauty matters, her art aims to create lasting connections between humans and their natural surroundings.

A recipient of the Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, Charlotte’s career spans decades of celebrated exhibitions and prestigious awards. Her educational journey includes graduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Art, and she holds a B.S. from Bowling Green State University.

Living on wooded property, Charlotte began working extensively with cherry trees — harvesting, aging, and carving them into wall-mounted and freestanding pieces, often intricately painted. Her art reflects both her environment and her global experiences. A recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico inspired her to incorporate embossed metalwork into her visual language.

She has completed numerous public and private commissions using wood, stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze. One notable public artwork, SIDE by SIDE, is permanently installed at a pocket park in the Harrison West community of Columbus, Ohio.

Charlotte is a listed artist in the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, and her sculptures can be found in museum collections, banks, medical institutions, and public spaces throughout the U.S.