Charles Compo

Charles Compo (b.1958) is an internationally recognized composer, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He was immersed in the East Village art scene in the ‘80s and collected art by many Rivington School artists. During this time, Compo worked as an assistant to Andy Warhol and collaborated with filmmaker and artist Harry Smith. He has written over 100 published musical compositions including “Seven Flute Solos”, which is published by Smithsonian Folkways.
Over the past two years, Compo’s work has been featured in over thirty notable juried shows worldwide. His painting “I’ve Got The World On A String” was selected to represent the United States in the 2021 London Biennale. In August of 2022 his painting  “Crossing The Bridge When You Come To It” was exhibited at the 2022 Chianciano Biennale and is now in the permanent collection of the Museo d’Arte di Chianciano Terme. His painting “Down At The Rally” received a special award by MOMA curator Paulina Pobocha and was acquired by The Yuko Nii Foundation’s Permanent Collection at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, and most recently his painting “Bad Birdie” was acquired by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. 
Brinda Kumar, the curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum, selected his painting “Swan Lake” to exhibit at Greenwich Art Society for their 105th Annual Juried exhibition and gave a talk on the painting at the opening reception. Here is an excerpt from that talk: 
“I love how narrative can be a starting point but where it takes you, and with the artist's imagination you are certainly not limited, it takes you somewhere quite surreal and unexpected. You're not quite sure where you stand with this, and I find it quite absolutely marvelous and refreshing. There's a certain kind of psychological complexity to it that I think the artist is getting at."

My art is an expression of my creative impulse, a process of exploration and discovery that brings me into a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me. Through the act of arranging items and experimenting with brushstrokes and paint, I enter a state of flow where thoughts and emotions emerge and find their place in the visual language of my work.For me, the act of creating art is a form of meditation, a way of engaging with the present moment and channeling my innermost thoughts and feelings. I am fascinated by the interplay of color, form, and composition, and how these elements can be used to create a sense of depth, movement, and balance. Whether through the use of symbolism, abstraction, or figurative representation, I hope to create art that invites viewers to engage with the mystery and beauty of the world around us.

New York

United States