Charlotte Asness Schatz

Charlotte Asness Schatz Philadelphia - Charlotte Asness Schatz, Delaware Valley painter, sculptor, and professor of art, died peacefully on February 9, 2023 surrounded by her family. She was 94. She is survived by her sister Florence Gorman of Jenkintown PA; her daughters Barbara (Kelly Grasso) of Corvallis OR, Emmi (Liz Davis) of Highland Park NJ, and Rachel (Scott Rubel) of Oregon; four grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She will be deeply missed by her family and her many friends and colleagues.

As an artist, Schatz worked in a broad range of styles and media, and exhibited throughout the U.S. as well as internationally. She won a Leeway Grant in 2000 and the Pollock-Krasner Award in 2004. She was awarded "Pennsylvania Treasure" by Philadelphia Mayor Rendell in 1998. Several of her pieces are in the permanent collection of the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA.

Schatz was born in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia in 1929 to Zalman Asness and Sara Kaitz Asness. She attended Gratz High School. She credited the colorful rolls of wallpaper in her father's store with her first artistic inspiration.

Schatz married Joseph Lewis Schatz of Philadelphia in 1949. In the succeeding years, they had three daughters and moved to Bucks County. In the early 60's, Schatz realized a longtime ambition and returned to school at Tyler School of Art, obtaining a Bachelors of Fine Arts in 1969. In 1973, she became Professor of Sculpture and Design at Bucks County Community College, where she taught for 30 years and inspired thousands of students.

During the 1970's, Schatz worked primarily in 3-D, creating geometric works in a variety of media, including pvc pipe, aluminum, bronze, glass, and plastic. In the 1980's, Schatz returned to the easel. Much of her work of this period reflects her lifelong concerns with political and social justice, peace, feminism, and civil rights. Schatz also began a new body of work that focused on Philadelphia's industrial and architectural past. Her Urban Ruins Transformed series includes images of factories, stacks, water towers, and buildings in bright colors and a representational style. Later in life, Schatz engaged in a series of free-form, abstract paintings that celebrated her delight in color, movement, and line. She was a member of the Assemblage Artist Collective.

After her husband died in 1979, Schatz lived in Center City and Elkins Park. She was a lover of arts and culture, movies and books. An excellent cook, she appreciated good food and good wine. She traveled widely in Europe, Mexico, and the U.S.

Schatz cared deeply about the state of the world and the lives of others. She was active in political causes including the labor, civil rights, peace, and feminist movements. Inquisitive, vibrant, stylish, and fun loving, she made friends everywhere she went and never hesitated to speak her mind. She loved to sing and to dance the night away. She was a social butterfly and the life of every party. Tenacious and strong, she survived cancer and battled Parkinson's for many years. She was like a phoenix, bouncing back to health time and again. She was an inspiration and role model to all who knew her.

Contributions in her memory can be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, The Southern Poverty Law Center, or Planned Parenthood. A memorial service will be held on June 4, 2023 at 3:30p.m. at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael Sacks in Southampton, PA.