Gregory Charles was born on December 6th 1979 in Jersey City, NJ where he spent his entire childhood living in the Booker T. Washington housing projects. In 1993 at the age of 13, he was accepted into the Jersey City public schools Visual and performing arts high school program where he learned to improve on his artistic skills and was eventually accepted into the Cooper Union School of art in New York City N.Y. When he graduated from Cooper Union in 2001, he became a special education teacher for three years at P.S. #14 and later an art teacher at P.S # 9 in Jersey City N.J. He also spent much of his time coaching the Ferris High School varsity swim team as well as the head swimming coach to the Jersey City Special Olympics team where he continue to teach and train young athletes.
On October 2006 Gregory Charles made his debut in the “American Diaspora” art show at the Victory Hall in downtown Jersey City. The following week, 15 of his paintings were on display at two separate shows during the Newark studio artist tour at the Kislak Building in downtown Newark N.J. and the Jersey City studio artist tour at the Mary Bethune center in Jersey City. As October came to an end, Greg participated as a visual artist in the Cypher Movement poetry slam and art venue where he sold all of the paintings that he created that night.
As black history month arrived, Greg’s artwork was included in what’s now called the most successful art show in Jersey City entitled “Plantation Lullabies” which ran through February at the Nobis gallery. During this time eight of his larger works of art was on display at City hall in Jersey City where Greg participated in various T.V. interviews to promote the show. During the shows reception on February 13th the city’s Mayor endorsed the young artist as he publicly gave his admiration for Gregory Charles art work. This year Greg’s artwork will be on display at the October Galley’s fine art expo in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, the Black heritage fine art expo in Baltimore Maryland, And the Circle of Sisters expo in Manhattan New York. In the fall of 2010, Greg was one of the artists featured in the Jersey City magazine which showcased many of his works or art. Aside from working to improve himself as an artist, Greg is also taking steps in promoting his artwork throughout the country.