Statement

Making art helps me to become aware of my limits as a human being. It allows me to nurture my inner child while bringing about the change I want to see in society. Making art is a worthy form of existence.

Charlie Five aka Chr5, Tenerife (Spain) is an artist, entrepreneur, musician and multifaceted graphic designer. He has been making digital art, animation and code art (generative art) for the last decade.

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Living in this world feels uncomfortable to me, and that discomfort compels me to take a stand. I make art as an exercise in self-awareness. It helps me reflect on the role I can play in this world and what I can contribute. Art makes me aware of my limits as a human being. It allows me to transform myself in two directions. Within, it becomes a form of therapy that helps me reshape my consciousness and become the person I want to be. While I play and have fun nurturing my inner child, I provoke the changes I want to see in the world. There is no better way to transform the world than by playing and loving who you are and what you do.

Biografía

Chr5 – Carlos Marrero is a multidisciplinary creator born in the Canary Islands, whose work spans digital art, illustration, graphic design, and generative art. His practice combines a deep aesthetic exploration with a continuous interest in indigenous cultures—especially Canarian—and in technological experimentation.

A reference figure in crypto art in Spain, Chr5 has promoted both the national and international scene through his cryptographic works, educational programs, and curatorship of over three international exhibitions, including CanAfrica (Canary Islands + Africa), 52WAD 2024 (Latin America, Africa, and Europe), NFTCanarias 2022(Canarian and Spanish artists), and the ongoing ARTCAN 2025-26, featuring artists from multiple countries.

His aesthetic and philosophical concerns are grounded in the desire to transform the world through art, fostering honest connections and genuine collaborations among artists. From this perspective, Chr5 acts as a generator of creative communities that promote change, experimentation, and critical thinking through artistic creation.

Among his emblematic collections are Living Creatures (2010–2022), WeRobots (2010–2025), Binary System (2015), 8x8Hero (2021), African Patterns (2022–2025), and Faces (2024). These works explore themes such as dehumanization and healing through sacred geometry, pixel art, and crypto art, often presenting a dreamlike world that connects the physical and the spiritual.

In addition to his artistic practice, he has developed cultural and technological initiatives such as Awwa Art (2010), Hack-Art, NFTCanarias, and Digital Art Zurich, aimed at connecting artists, collectors, and companies, while exploring new forms of production, dissemination, and commercialization of digital art.

His career reflects a consistent commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the creation of bridges between tradition, technology, and artistic communities, establishing him as a significant voice in the contemporary landscape of digital and international crypto art.

Hack~Art – A pioneering training program for artists

I have created a digital art program for artists who are ready to learn how to build their own sales systems and develop an artistic career in the digital world, independently of the traditional art system.

Check out my digital art training and listen to my free audio (spanish at the moment)

Exhibitions

Art Curations

ARTCAN 2025‑26

Co-curation with Julio Sahagún
Location: Canary Islands (scheduled: 2025‑26)
Description: International digital art exhibition exploring the “phygital” space — the intersection between physical and digital. 30 artists will participate, presenting works in animation, 3D modeling, video art, tokenized objects, and more.

52WAD ~ 2024

Digital platform / Tezos blockchain network (2024)
Pioneering independent digital art project: 52 works over 52 weeks on the Tezos network. Artists from Spain and Latin America were invited to explore creation and collecting in the blockchain environment.

NFTCANARIAS ~ 2023

Museo de Estudios Hispánicos, Puerto de La Cruz (Tenerife, Canary Islands)
Digital art exhibition focused on cryptography, tokenization, and artists from the Canary Islands. A platform to showcase local creators within the global ecosystem.

CANAFRICA ~ 2022

Co-curation with Djibil Drame
Location: Digital / hybrid (October 2022)
First Canary Islands–Africa crypto-art exhibition, featuring artists from Nigeria, Senegal, and Spain. The unifying theme was “Water,” representing a cultural connection between the Canary Islands and continental Africa.

NFTCANARIAS ~ 2022

Digital / local (2022)
First edition of ARTCAN, a digital art blockchain event in the Canary Islands featuring the first five NFTCanarias artists: Djsaero, Bénelo, Aída Piñango, NftGarden, and Chr5. The exhibition was presented in a virtual gallery on OnCyber.

Founder

Digital Art Zurich

Founder
Zurich, Switzerland
Entrepreneurship project focused on digital art innovation. Promotes networking, exhibitions, and projects connecting artists, collectors, and technology in the Swiss art scene.

NFTCanarias

Founder
Canary Islands / Global
Platform to empower digital artists, providing visibility, mentorship, and opportunities in blockchain-based art. Focuses on exhibitions, digital galleries, and international collaborations.

Hack~Art

Founder
Canary Islands
High-impact program for digital artists, combining mentorship, technical training, and career development. Aims to guide artists in creating, tokenizing, and promoting their digital artworks.

Awwa Art

Founded 2010, Canary Islands.
Fashion brand inspired by the indigenous culture of the Canary Islands. Combines traditional motifs with contemporary design, highlighting local heritage in wearable art.

Get in Touch with Me

You can reach me by sending a direct message on social media, such as Instagram or Twitter.
Alternatively, you can email me at [hi]@[nftcanarias.org].