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Craig Reheis (1941-1991) Noted Ft. Lauderdale Artist


Craig C. Reheis (1941-1991) Noted Ft. Lauderdale Artist


Craig Crosby Reheis artwork is cherished and desirable within certain circles.  He started life as a Jewish New Jersey Boy growing up in Maplewood.  Went off to Lehigh University (PA) and graduated in Business in 1964, not Art.   Yet, during his college days he was noted for his artistic abilities and Lehigh awarded him the Fabiani Award for contemporary painting in 1963.

Like many young men of his day, the military came calling and he spent a tour with the Army after graduation.  Upon leaving the Army in the late 60s he landed in Ft. Lauderdale, where he open an art gallery.  His business acumen was instrumental in creating outdoor art fairs with artists, such as the Los Olas Art Fair; as noted in An Artist`s Guide to Sidewalk Exhibiting (Watson-Guptill, 1980).  

He also managed a gallery and his own career.  His most noted works were sold at Wentworth Galleries Palm Beach, Boston, Washington, DC, and the Billy Hork Gallery, Chicago.  Many of these paintings were thickly textured works of art.  It was almost like he took entire thick layer of frosting and used a spatula to form these paintings.  Then he would use another utensil to carve patterns, Xs and Os, and squiggles into his abstract forms.  He frequently used pastel colors that remind us of cotton candy and warm Florida sunshine.

His works can now be found on the secondary market and auction houses.  Most identifiable with just a “Reheis” signature, these paintings are selling in $200 and up range.  These works demonstrate a lot of talent for a bargain price.  He would have been known as a master artist, if his life had not been cut short due to cancer at the age of 50.   

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©2014. Waller-Yoblonsky Fine Art is a research collaborative, working to track artists that got lost and overlooked due to time, changing styles, race, gender and/or sexual orientation. Our frequent blogs highlight artists and art movements that need renewed attention with improved information for the researcher and art collectors. The photos and blog was created by Mr. Waller and all written materials were obtained by the Fair Use Section 107, of The Copyright Act. #waller-yoblonskyblogspot #walleryoblonskyblogspot  #Reheis  #CraigReheis





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