Peter Besharo was a Pennsylvania handyman whose secret paintings were found only after his death; 69 works were discovered in a garage, and some are now at the Smithsonian

Let’s take some of our most random side projects. The incomplete novel in your notes app. The drawings in your sketchbook under your bed. The playlist you made for no one. Imagine putting your heart and soul into it for years and never sharing any of it. Only for the world to discover you exist after you pass away. This is pretty much what happened to Peter Besharo, a Pennsylvania handyman.

According to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Peter Besharo was a handyman and house painter who lived a solitary life in Leechburg, Pennsylvania. He wasn’t discovered as an artist until after passing away when 69 paintings were found in a rented garage. In a society that pushes us to create our personal brand before knowing what we like, this fact hits hard. Who was he and what was he painting?

A day job and a garage full of paint


Peter Besharo, often referred to as Peter Charlie, was born in Syria in 1899 and passed away in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in 1960. He worked as a house painter and handyman in Leechburg. His art was discovered in the rented garage, which is a long way from a gallery opening. His art explores themes such as space, religion, Armenian folklore, American history, and demons. Other themes explored are those from his subconscious.

One piece stands out where Peter paints a chained Lady Liberty wearing peasant clothing speeding through the blue void with a headlamp. There is no explanation given in the text and images of what her mission is. We can guess that he was inspired by events such as the death of Stalin in 1953, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and John Glenn orbiting the Earth in 1962.

A search for somewhere to belong

As an ethnic Arab growing up in mainly white Leechburg, Peter always felt like an outsider, as stated by the Museum's own account of his painting “Untitled (From Earth to Haven/From Haven to Earth)”. His artwork shows this with themes of isolation and searching for something. Peter added themes of spirituality, patriotism, God’s protection, and hopes for peace. He also spelled heaven as haven. This unintentionally connects the spiritual universe with a safe place for refuge on earth.

From garage to gallery wall

Since discovering his art, Peter’s work has travelled far from Leechburg. The American Folk Art Museum’s online collection has two of his pieces in their online collection. Both were painted around 1950. His pieces are titled Crusade of Noah and The Double All-Seeing Eye.

The exhibition “We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists in the Robson Family Collection” ran from July 1st 2022, to March 26th 2023. This exhibition explores the rise of self-taught artists in the twentieth century. This exhibition is listed on the artist page.

The part of the story that deserves a second look

Stories of artists being discovered after death always go down a treat online. However, this story isn’t as detailed. From the biography details on the artist page, we know that Peter immigrated in 1903. On the page about his painting, we know he was around 1912. We don’t know if he ever wanted his art to be seen by anyone.

The museum also admits that there isn’t any clarity in his text to explain his artwork. This story doesn’t teach us how to be productive or warn us against something. It just reminds us how different creating art is from actually being seen creating it. His garage makes us think: if no one were watching, what would you create?