Artist's Statement

It’s no surprise that I pursued a career in the arts. I grew up surrounded by creativity — working alongside my parents, both artists, and their community of fellow artists, designers, collectors, and patrons. While most children played with clay, I was gifted my first sculpting clay by Albert Rieker, the noted sculptor known for his monumental works.

I began with watercolor landscapes and later painted large-scale murals, where architectural elements were a natural component. These murals translated into the expansive canvases I use today.

My work restoring ecclesiastical art in historic New Orleans churches sparked a deeper exploration of religious symbolism. That experience led to commissions for original artwork in churches and synagogues. It was a fitting evolution, given my formal education in Philosophy and Ancient Greek.

An early solo exhibition explored "Genesis" and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. That theme would evolve over time, and eventually, my interest in metaphysics and philosophy began to shape my artistic direction.

My shift from watercolor to oil was part of a deeper search — for timelessness and meaning. I developed new techniques, working beyond the limits of traditional materials, to create artworks that are deeply connected to their environments.

Beauty and harmony are central to my vision, but each painting also conveys a message. Over the last three decades, I’ve developed a visual language — a style and symbolic system uniquely my own. My body of work includes paintings, pewter bas-relief, functional pewter objects, pewter jewelry, fired enamel on copper, murals, tile murals, serigraphs, and carved wood pieces. I've completed over a dozen solo exhibitions, and numerous commissions.

– Charles H. Reinike III

Charles H. Reinike III

Charles H. Reinike III, born in New Orleans in 1947 to artists Charles and Vera Reinike, is a multifaceted artist and gallery owner. He has worked professionally as an artist since 1970, distinguishing himself from his father by using "III" in his signature.

Reinike's artistic path was significantly shaped by the rich cultural environment of his native New Orleans, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for aesthetics and history. His mother, Vera, instructed him in art restoration, faux finishes, and decorative arts, while his father taught him painting techniques and collaborated in developing the pewter methods the artist still uses in his metalwork today.

Reinike pursued his higher education at St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. At LSU, he served as a sculptor's assistant in the Art Department under the guidance of Armin Scheler, a respected professor who encouraged his passion for sculpture. Guided by the belief that art should be grounded in both thought and technique, Reinike earned his degree in Philosophy with concentrations in Ancient Greek Language and Fine Art.

After college, Reinike joined his father in working on large-scale commissions, initially as an apprentice and later as a partner. In 1971, he and his wife, Edna, took over the Reinike Gallery, which his parents had established in 1930. The couple expanded the gallery's mission and relocated it to Atlanta in 1988, where it continues to operate today.

Throughout his career, Reinike has created paintings, murals, sculpture, and functional art for both private and public collections. His work in restoring artworks in historic New Orleans buildings and churches, alongside his large-scale mural projects, significantly influenced his techniques and fostered his continued interest in classical, ecclesiastical, and architectural themes often seen in his paintings.

Currently, Reinike works daily in his Atlanta studio, having shifted away from commissioned projects to concentrate fully on his painting and pewter work as he pursues his unique artistic vision.