Charles Birnbaum is both a sculptor and self-taught photographer who graduated from Kansas City Art Institute, where he studied ceramics under Ken Ferguson, one of the most influential ceramic artists and teachers in America. Birnbaum’s early work challenged the cultural boundaries of "craft" through postmodern interpretations of ancient European and Asian ceramics. After graduate studies at Tyler School of Art, he began re-contextualizing vessels into organic forms, which led to fully abstract porcelain sculptures.

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Based in New York City, Birnbaum creates one-of-a-kind gallery and commissioned sculptures exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the U.S. and internationally. His work resides in prestigious private collections including those of Jack Lenor Larsen's Longhouse Reserve, design luminary Hilda Longinotti, Ronald Kuchta (former Director of the Everson Museum of Arts and editor of American Ceramics), The Baxter Museum in Florida, Austria's Kapfenberg Cultural Center, and Japan's Museum of Modern Ceramic Art in Mino.

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As a photographer Charles began working in the medium in high school in the late 60’s. Though for the last 20 years he had been concentrating exclusively on his sculptural work, the pandemic changed him profoundly and inspired him to return to the camera. Charles felt photography was the way to express the liminality of his life, that in-between state that’s barely perceptible, that zone we have been feeling between life and death. So in August of 2020 he picked up his camera and began a torrid dive into photography. He found notable success quickly being exhibited nationally, and abroad in Rome, Berlin, Budapest, and Glasglow. Charles's photos have been published and has merited numerous awards.