About the Artist

Artist CV

Statement

Charles Campbell is one of the most prominent of his generation of Jamaican contemporary artists. He has exhibited widely in North America, the Caribbean and Europe, representing Jamaica in events such as the Santo Domingo Biennial, touring exhibitions in the USA and international festivals.

Born in Jamaica in 1970 Campbell moved with his family to PEI Canada in 1975. After completing his BFA at Concordia University, Montreal he returned to Jamaica in 1993 and quickly established himelf at the forefront of Kingston’s burgeoning art scene. Campbell became recognised for the “intense emotional impact” of his imagery and “a certain ascetic, cerebral detachment” to his work. He was also acclaimed as an insightful critic and tutor, writing art commentary and reviews for the national papers and teaching drawing and painting at the Edna Manley College.

In 1997 Campbell went to the UK for an artist’s residency in South London and, after a brief return to Jamaica, moved to London in 1998 to do his MA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, University of London. After completing his MA Campbell worked as an Arts Coordinator in Greenwich and as assistant curator and editor of ‘Front’, a combined exhibition and book project which related advances in science and medicine to the visual arts. Campbell returned to Canada in 2002 where he is currently the Gallery Coordinator for Xchanges Artists’ Gallery & Studios, Canada’s oldest Artist Run Centre. He lives in Victoria with his wife and two children.