Alex Charriol: On Art, Community, and the Birth of Artscene
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii to French parents and raised across three continents, Alexandre Charriol discovered his passion for painting during high school in London. This early love led to his first solo exhibition at Sydney Muse in 1995. He continued his formal arts education at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Tufts University, and Parsons School of Design in New York City, where he eventually established his studio.
Charriol is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores motion, connection, and transformation across cultures. Working primarily in oils, plastic, and wood, he creates bold, energetic compositions that investigate the universal language of human experience.
"Growing up on different continents has enormously influenced my work. As a child we moved a lot, and that taught me to embrace change and to quickly make new and interesting connections," His practice is characterized by fearless material experimentation and a willingness to merge the primal with the contemporary. His work is simultaneously playful and profound, humorous and sensual—capturing the perpetual state of transformation that defines modern life.
When he isn't painting or "poking and provoking," Charriol can be found cooking bolognese for friends at home or studying mindfulness practices for the soul and body.
Why did you start Artscene?
I started Artscene because I wanted to spread the message of art and educate the public about the artists that shape our world. I want people to feel included, not excluded from the art world, and to create a community where people from all walks of life can talk about art and share their creative ideas.
What is Artscene exactly?
Artscene is a contemporary artist-led brand creating the finest wearable art—printed t-shirts that encourage everyone to explore their inner creative energy. The shirts speak a mobile language of design, surprise, and shock, reflecting on art history blended with pop culture references. The tees are exclusively designed for the brand, created in collections by artists for artists, lovers, dreamers, and activists alike.
The movement is only beginning.
Release the artist within.
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
Entering the studio of another artist—I get so inspired to see how they work, what materials they use, and the process they go through to create their magic. I love to soak in that energy, and honestly, there's nothing like it. I just want to run to my studio and start painting.
Some of my favorite influences as a painter:
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Georg Baselitz
Franz Kline
Robert Rauschenberg
And of course, Henri Matisse and those colors
Favorite websites or social media handles?
Tate
The Art Newspaper (theartnewspaper.com)
The Artforum app
Ninu Nina of course.
Anything else?
All the designs from the first collection are by the famous art critic and cartoonist Anthony Haden-Guest.
