Join us for “All Growed Up,” the fourth installment in a series of exhibitions by artist Jim Charette.

“All Growed Up” showcases a remarkable 40-year journey since his days at Swain School in the late 1980s. This exhibition marks a homecoming to one of the former Swain School buildings at GWNB, where Charette’s artistic path began.

Event Details
📍: Groundwork Gallery, New Bedford, MA

📅: Friday, August 8th, 2025

⏰: 6pm-8pm

About the Exhibition
“All Growed Up” reflects Charette’s evolution as an artist, weaving together the threads of his career as a painter, cartoonist, tattoo artist, and more. The series began with “Sad Little Boys” (2014) at The Abattoir in Kilburn Mills, voted Best Show in the Southcoast by art critic Don Wilkinson for the New Bedford Standard Times. Followed by “An Orderly Chaos” (2018) at Douglass Gallery, and “Still Playing with My Crayons” (2023) at Ignition Space in Fall River, MA.

During the 2023 exhibition, Charette had a revelation while reflecting in the gallery. His seemingly disparate styles and career shifts were all connected. “I make the art of Jim Charette,” he realized, embracing the unity of his work. This clarity inspired a relentless creative drive, culminating in “All Growed Up.” The title, a playful nod to a line from Diner—”our little boy is all growed up”—also carries deep significance, symbolizing Charette’s return to his roots while celebrating the artist he always wanted to be, inspired by his childhood love of comics and cartoons.

Why You Should Attend
This exhibition is a vibrant celebration of resilience, self-discovery, and artistic growth. Visitors will experience a dynamic collection that traces Charette’s journey, from his early days copying comics to his multifaceted career. Hosted in a space tied to his past, “All Growed Up” invites you to join Charette on a ride through four decades of creativity, where every piece tells a story of connection and purpose.

Come explore the art of Jim Charette—serious, playful, and unapologetically his own.

Artist Bio: After attending Swain School NBMA, in the 80’s, Jim worked as staff editorial cartoonist for two years at the Fall River Herald News. He worked as a graphics artist for five years for local screen printers while freelancing cartoons and illustrations. And he was a professional tattoo artist for five years at two parlors in RI before being sidelined by health issues in the early 2000’s. Jim’s work has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, books and assorted underground publications in the alternative press. His art has also been featured in numerous group and solo art shows throughout the US and internationally. Jim has produced dozens of videos featuring all original improvised music and digital manipulations of public domain footage for public access channels in MA and RI.