Charlie received a BFA, with a focus on photography, from Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles in 1989. After graduating he moved to New York where he worked as a photo assistant for Josef Astor and David Seidner. In 1994 he started began working in window display at Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Ralph Lauren. In 1998 he began assisting as a prop stylist and set designer and went solo three years later. In 2006 he moved to Barcelona to continue his art studies at Metàfora International Workshop focusing on sculpture, installation and public intervention. At the end of 2008 he returned to New York and resumed working as a prop stylist, set designer and photographer, while also putting more focus on his personal work.
Charlie’s experience from commercial work comes into play with his fine art. Photography is his main medium, but he also incorporates sculpture and collage. Constructed environments and playful sets are signatures of his work. Charlie conveys narratives about identity formation, public and private selves, and how we navigate through daily life.
Charlie is a co-founder of the NY Queer Zine Fair and co-organizer from 2015-2018.
He is also an award-winning pie baker.
INTERVIEWS:
Profile Journal: Charlie Welch / Dec 2020
Queer 40: Dudgrick talks to… Charlie Welch / Nov 2020
SBP x Pride: Charlie Welch / Jun 2020
Loveland People: Crazy Talented Charlie Welch / Aug 2015
Commercial work at www.charliewelchfoto.com
EXHIBITIONS + FAIRS
2023
Queer Collage Workshop / March 11 / Bureau of General Services—Queer Division / New York, New York US
It Will End In Tears / February 10 - April 9 / Bureau of General Services—Queer Division / New York, New York US
Postcards From The Edge / January 5-8 / Ortuzar Projects / New York, New York US
2022
Peculiar Portraits / September 7 - November 2 / Atria Center City / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
Family Room / August 24 - September 14 / Da Vinci Art Alliance / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
2022 Member’s Exhibition / July 14 - August 20 / TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
Collective Awareness / June 29 - July 20 / Da Vinci Art Alliance / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
SOUVENIR & Friends Marketplace / June 4-5 / W Hotel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
The Curated Fridge Winter 2022 Show / Online
Postcards From The Edge / January 8-14 / Online / New York, New York US
2021
When I Say Me, I Say You: Queer x 37 / William Way 16th Annual Juried Art Exhibition / November 2021 / Online / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
Fanzineist Vienna Art Book & Zine Fair / 26 July - 26 August / Online / Vienna, AUSTRIA
Moving Forward When the World Stopped: Queer Life 2020-2021 / May 2021 / Online / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
William Way 15th Annual Juried Art Exhibition / January 2021 / Online / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
Postcards From The Edge / January 9-15 / Online / New York, New York US
2020
Philly Zine Fest / November 7 / Online / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
Love My Way No 2 / October 15-18 / Villa Noailles Hyères / Hyères FRANCE
NY Queer Zine Fair / October 1 / Online
Paris Ass Book Fair / Online
Postcards From The Edge / January 3-5 / Bortolami / New York, New York US
2019
NY Queer Zine Fair / Brooklyn Public Library / Brooklyn, New York US
Schoolhouse Gallery / July 19 – August 7 / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
AMP : Art Market Provincetown / June 21 - July 10 / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
Paris Ass Book Fair / Palais de Tokyo / Paris FRANCE
Fruit Exhibition / Palazzo Isolani / Bologna ITALY
Postcards From The Edge / February 22-24 / Gallery 524 / New York, New York US
2018
Paris Ass Book Fair / Palais de Tokyo / Paris FRANCE
Postcards From The Edge / January 19-21 / Gallery 524 / New York, New York US
2017
NY Queer Zine Fair / Bureau of General Services - Queer Division / New York, New York US
You Can't Go Home Again (pt2) / Shortcut Gallery / Phoenix, Arizona US
You Can't Go Home Again (pt1) / AMP/Art Market Provincetown / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
Home / MAC Fine Art / Ft. Lauderdale, Florida US
Carne Curada : Klinkstudios /Barcelona SPAIN
Paris Ass Book Fair / Galerie Arts Factory / Paris, France
Postcards From The Edge / January 14-15 / Metro Pictures / New York, New York US
2016
NY Queer Zine Fair / Bureau of General Services - Queer Division / New York, New York US
17th Annual Dog Show / Mascot Studio / New York, New York US
Postcards From The Edge / January 29-31 / Sikkema Jenkins & Co / New York, New York US
2015
NY Queer Zine Fair / Bureau of General Services - Queer Division / New York, New York US
Knowsgay : Heroes and Role Models / Bureau of General Services - Queer Division / New York, New York US
Member's 12x12 Silent Auction / Provincetown Art Association and Museum / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
16th Annual Dog Show / Mascot Studio / New York, New York US
Postcards From The Edge / January 30 - February 1 / Luhring Augustine Gallery : New York, New York US
2014
Small is Beautiful / Flowers Gallery / New York, New York US
Flower Power! / AMP/Art Market Provincetown / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
Member's 12x12 Silent Auction / Provincetown Art Association and Museum / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
Small Works Brooklyn ? Ann's Arbor / Brooklyn, New York US
15th Annual Dog Show / Mascot Studio / New York, New York US
Fresh / Provincetown Art Association and Museum / Provincetown, Massachusetts US
N.Y. Art Book Fair / New York, New York US
Postcards from the Edge /January 25-26 / Luhring Augustine Gallery / New York, New York US
2013
Group Show / Sweet Lorraine Gallery / Brooklyn, New York US
N.Y. Art Book Fair / New York, New York SU
Round Hole, Square Peg / Smart Clothes Gallery / New York, New York US
L.A. Art Book Fair / Los Angeles, California US
2012
ReMixed Messages / Fathom Gallery / Washington, DC US
Wall Papers / Arts And Sciences Projects / New York, New York US
2011
Mixed Messages / la mama la galleria / New York, New York US
Group Show / Sweet Lorraine Gallery / Brooklyn, New York US
2010
New Stand / Arts And Sciences Projects / New York, New York US
2009
Artists Who Use Text To Say Nice Things / 206 Rivington / New York, New York US
Tallers Oberts / Laboratorio Puko / Barcelona SPAIN
2008
Summer Members' Exhibition / Gracia Arts Project / Barcelona SPAIN
Slideluck/Barcelona 2 / Barcelona SPAIN
2007
Expressa't - No Et Quedis Als Núvols / L'associació Abd Y Ambit Dona / Barcelona SPAIN
Des De Fora / Punt Multimedia / Barcelona SPAIN
2006
Cakewalk / Metàfora Centre D’estudis D’art I Artteràpia / Barcelona SPAIN
White Knot / Metàfora Centre D’estudis D’art I Artteràpia / Barcelona SPAIN
2005
Wood / Musee de Monoian / New York, New York US
Summer Show / Musee de Monoian / New York, New York US
2004
Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show / Kathryn Schultz Gallery / Cambridge, Massachessetts US
April Showers (Art Start) / Judson Memorial Church / New York, New York US
La Grange National XXIII Exhibition / Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum / La Grange, Georgia US
Love Everybody - Big, Thick And Pumpin' / Judson Memorial Church / New York, New York US
1998
Philly Hoverground / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania US
1994
Pride / Peter Modero Gallery / New York, New York US
1991
The Love Show / Belle Cafe / New York, New York US
1989
Flight / Los Angeles Photography Center / Los Angeles, California US
1988
Fashion and Photographs / Los Angeles Photography Center / Los Angeles, California US
EDUCATION
2014 / The Photograph as Language: The Art of Visual Storytelling with David Hilliard / Fine Arts Work Center / Provincetown, Massachussetts US
2007-08 / Masters In Art Therapy (YR1) / Metàfora Centre D’estudis D’art I Artteràpia with Universitat de Barcelona / Barcelona Spain
2006-07 / International Art Workshop / Metàfora Centre D’estudis D’art I Artteràpia / Barcelona Spain
1985-89 / BFA in Photography / Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design / Los Angeles, California US