Born into a Filipino-Chinese family in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Charlie Co’s artistic spark was ignited early by seeing canvases of Filipino masters in the homes of clients of his family’s furniture business. Choosing the studio over the family enterprise, he went on to study fine arts at La Consolacion College in Bacolod and the Philippine Women’s University in Manila. Co's creative voice solidified amidst the socio-economic crises of Negros in the 1980s, driving him to co-found the Black Artists of Asia (BAA) collective to amplify the plight of local sugarcane laborers. Over a brilliant career spanning more than four decades, Co has mounted over 40 international solo exhibitions and anchored defining national delegations to global biennales. Despite his global acclaim, he remains deeply rooted in Bacolod City as a powerhouse cultural advocate, co-owning and running the Orange Project (the city's premier creative hub) and serving as a founding pillar of VIVA ExCon (Visayan Visual Art Exhibition and Conference)—the longest-running, independent, artist-run biennial in the Philippines. Major Awards & Accolades:2007: Dr. Jose Rizal Award for Excellence 2003: Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan (Pintura) – City of Manila 1999: Juror’s Choice, 6th Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards 1990: Thirteen Artists Award – Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Residencies: International artist-in-residence grants across Japan, China (Beijing), Germany (Leipzig), and Australia.Selected Exhibitions & Global Surveys:2026: Fight or Flight – (Recent solo presentation showcasing his signature modeling paste technique) 2025: Confabulations: A Fantasy of the Real – Gajah Gallery, Singapore2025: Libang / Hibang – Gajah Gallery Yogyakarta, Indonesia 1996: 23rd São Paulo Biennale – Brazil (Official Philippine Representative) 1996: 2nd Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) – Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia 1995: Asian Modernism – Japan Foundation Asian Cultural Centre, Tokyo (Traveling survey to Bangkok and Jakarta) Permanent Institutional Collections:Co's works command immense institutional gravity and are housed in premier public collections worldwide:Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan Singapore Art Museum (SAM) Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Australia National Museum of the Philippines & Metropolitan Museum of ManilaLopez Museum and Library, Manila BenCab Museum, Baguio City, Philippines
