Artist: Edward Robin Coronel

Date: 2024

Dimensions: 8"x10" framed

Medium: Acrylic

Edward "Robin" Coronel was born in the Philippines. His family moved to the United States when he was a few years old and lived in a small quiet Midwest town near Chicago. He grew up in a huge multigenerational Catholic household. To escape, Coronel would find a safe hiding space to read, or draw and doodle while listening to his radio. When he was allowed, he would watch television, especially Saturday morning cartoons. Most often, he would draw his own cartoons to entertain himself and his younger sister. Characters of his creation would often have adventures with his favorite television stars.

Coronel has no formal art training and he has been drawing most of his life. After years of working and challenging life stuff, he needed a break. In Austin, Texas, Coronel volunteered at an animal shelter and pursued making artworks. Coronel has exhibited works in numerous galleries in the United States, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Thailand. He had his first European solo exhibition in Rome, Italy, May of 2012 with MondoPOP Gallery. In 2014 and 2015, Coronel was part of featured art shows with Wacko & La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, California.

While making more artworks, Coronel works at a nonprofit that helps folks manage their recovery, trauma, and/or abuse, while gaining confidence, skills and reference-able work experience to obtain permanent jobs. When he is not working or not in the studio, you can find Coronel volunteering at the animal shelter, food bank and community center. He is happiest when he reads, draws and doodles, or spend quiet moments with close friends, family, and pets.

"Originally hailing from the Philippines, Edward Robin Coronel's endearing work is not just cute, but is also rather heartfelt and touching. Harkening back to Coronel's childhood of hand drawn characters, the works from this self-taught artist bring us back to a more innocent time and serve as a breath of fresh air in an arts scene too often concerned with sexuality and occasional violence."