Charles Compo at the Art Alliance

The Art Alliance of Monmouth County will present the work of Charles Compo in their windows for the month of June. Compo is an internationally recognized composer, multi-instrumentalist, and painter whose work captures the intricacies of contemporary life. His paintings are characterized by surreal abstract imagery, symbolic iconography and motifs of mysticism, violence and the subconscious. His work takes a look inwards and unveils what may go unnoticed to some.
Compo’s background in jazz and experimental music allow for a unique exploration in the visual medium of painting. Within the past five years Compo has pivoted, putting down the saxophone and picking up the paint brush. His nascent love for the medium has given him space to reflect both inwards and outwards. His paintings focus on the passage of time, social decay, mortality and remembrance. His use of cryptic symbolism runs parallel to Vanitas and ponders questions of existence, futurity and contemporary life that strives for higher ideals.
Compo’s paintings have been awarded finalist in several juried exhibitions across the globe. His work has been prominently exhibited in multiple group exhibitions and Biennales internationally such as the London Biennale (2022 and 2024) and the Chianciano Biennale in Italy in 2024. Work by the artist is represented in museum and public collections worldwide, including Museo d’Arte di Chianciano Terme, The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, The Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Yuko Nii Foundation’s Permanent Collection at the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center.
Compo says
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.
In the main gallery space McCall will jury work by members on the theme Down the Shore. Hoofs and Heartbeats, work by students from the Hackensack Meridian Autism Program, will also be presented in the gallery.
An Artists’ Reception will be held Saturday, June 7th from 6-8 PM. The public is invited to attend. The exhibition is on view until June 24th, Tuesday – Saturday, 12-4 PM. Free of charge. Art Alliance of Monmouth County, 33 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ.
For more information about the exhibit, visit our website www.artallianceofmonmouth.org, or visit or call the gallery during operating hours, (732) 842-9403. Founded in 1978, the Art Alliance of Monmouth County is dedicated to promoting the advancement of the visual arts and providing exhibition, studio, and classroom space to local artists. New members are always welcome.
Membership in the Art Alliance is open to visual artists at any skill level and to art lovers. Membership fee is $40 per year, $25 for students with id. Benefits of membership include reduced entry fee for all exhibits ($5 per piece for up to 3 pieces for members; $10 per piece for non-members); affordable studio space; diverse classes and workshops; networking opportunities; the possibility of mounting an independent exhibit during the summer. In addition, the Art Alliance maintains a website, a bi-monthly newsletter, and a Facebook page.
Programming at the Art Alliance is made possible in part by Monmouth Arts through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the New Jersey State Council on the arts.