Criner, Charles, (Patty Cake)

"Patty Cake" by Charles Criner 26 x 18 inches (Image Size)  30 x 22 inches (Paper), lithograph on paper, 2007 --unframed Charles Criner (1945–2026) was a master lithographer and visual historian whose work preserved the lived memory of rural Black life in East Texas and the broader American South. Born in Athens, Texas, one of nine children, Criner began drawing as a child by copying illustrations from Walter Foster “How-To” art books. His early talent quickly grew into commissioned work for his school, church, and even a local canning company truck while still in high school—an opportunity he described as a blessing, allowing him to create art instead of laboring in the fields. In 1964, Criner entered the Fine Arts program at Texas Southern University, where he studied under the legendary muralist and educator John Biggers. Biggers’ insistence on honoring family history and confronting personal truth profoundly shaped Criner’s artistic philosophy. Through this mentorship, Criner came to understand that art must emerge from lived experience—the immediacy of family, the dignity of labor, and the raw beauty of everyday life. His imagery remained deeply autobiographical throughout his career. Fishing scenes recalled childhood days in the streams of East Texas with his siblings. Images of field workers, churchgoers, and intimate domestic moments reflected both the hardship and resilience of Black Southern communities. Criner believed these images were essential—“windows into our past” that deserved preservation and reverence. Introduced to stone lithography at Texas Southern, Criner devoted his life to mastering the medium. Working on a 150-year-old antique press, he hand-pulled his own editions, honoring the discipline and craftsmanship of traditional printmaking. As Resident Artist at the Museum of Printing History, he not only produced work but also taught workshops, ensuring the continuation of this historic practice for future generations. Beyond his studio career, Criner served as a staff artist at the Houston Post beginning in 1970 and continued after its acquisition by the Houston Chronicle until 1999. His dual practice—journalistic illustration and fine art printmaking—reflected his commitment to documenting lived experience in both immediate and enduring forms. Criner’s passing in 2026 marks the loss of a cultural steward and master printmaker. His legacy lives on through his hand-pulled lithographs, which remain powerful testaments to memory, faith, labor, and family. For collectors, his work stands not only as fine art, but as historical record—crafted with devotion, discipline, and deep personal truth.