Cobo, V: WERKDRUCK No. 30

Victor Cobo was born in 1971 to a Spanish mother and an American father. His autobiographical pieces explore the shadows of life while unearthing secrets through sometimes lurid and playful melodramas. Most obvious are themes relating to escapism, alter-ego, longing, androgyny, eroticism, mortality and the human condition. His photographs are noted for their psychological penetration, and for their often discomforting examination of uncertainty and inexpressible fears.

From the age of seven, Cobo received artistic training from his grandfather in figure drawing. He is a self-taught photographer who draws inspiration from Surrealism, Film noir and German Expressionism. Repeated visits to The Museo del Prado in Spain with his taxi-driving grandfather and seeing midnight thrillers with his poor and drug-addicted father as a child changed his life.

In 2007 his works were included in "Masters of American Photography" at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art with William Eggleston, Robert Frank and Lee Friedlander. In 2010 Cobo's works were included in "Hauntology" at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, alongside such artists as Francisco de Goya, Francis Bacon and Diane Arbus. The exhibition was curated by Scott Hewicker and Lawrence Rinder.