As with any catastrophic event, artists and maestros of creativity yearn for the light of inspiration at the end of the tunnel. This is the case for Alexander Charriol, who found his time cleared of distracting events and obligations as COVID-19 roared on, catalyzing his journey to a new layer of his inward self. Charriol spent the denouement of lockdown in his studio in Los Angeles, bringing to life ten new figurative abstract paintings that comprise Center Places, on view from October 21 - November 19 at Madison Studios. The acrylic, spray paint and charcoal produced on each of his new series of canvases has taken him on a multi-faceted moody odyssey, exploring intimacy and intangible connectedness in the face of ubiquitous fear and uncertainty. In Charriol’s paintings such as Jockey Meeting, Space for Two, and Hard People, the viewer may feel the aura of erotica transmitted across the canvas, yet the paintings suggest the coupled desire of seeking comfort and emotional safety - especially during a time when social distancing also distanced other modes of connection such as heightened embraces. In Pink Love and Angel of the Missionary, the audience is provoked to be honest with themselves, to feel the raw vulnerability and biological yet metaphysical angst of our new reality. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii to French parents and then raised in various parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, Charriol is intrinsically multicultural and found his artistic expression at a young age. He started painting in high school in London, where his lauded work led to his first solo exhibition at the Sydney Museum in 1995. Bound by his calling, Charriol continued his formal art education at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Parsons’ School of Design in New York City. Today, his work is exhibited and collected by galleries and museums across the world, including Leila Heller Gallery, New York; Ayala Museum, Philippines; Yoshii Gallery, Paris and Japan; Artspace, Dubai; and Lotus Gallery, Bangkok, among others. Charriol lives and works in Los Angeles.