Charles Radtke is the first retrospective of the work of the renowned furniture maker who lives and works in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The exhibition features more than 30 examples of the artist’s work, including cabinets, tables, and chairs. Largely self-taught, Radtke (b. 1964) is best known for his attention to detail, exemplified by his meticulous dovetailing, planing, carving, and finishing work, all done by hand rather than machine. He prefers working with native American hardwoods and has harvested much of the wood he’s used throughout his career himself. While rooted in traditional furniture making, Radtke’s work has a conceptual component that relates to contemporary sculpture. The artist’s ongoing exploration of the function of the cabinet as a container has resulted in the unorthodox features of several of his pieces, such as interiors that are more intricately designed than the exteriors, or hidden compartments in which Radtke has placed something personally meaningful. Radtke’s work is represented in several museum collections, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum