Coco Unveils Colorful Canvases in Latest Exhibition

The multi-talented Joe Coco, a professor of art at Centenary University, revealed his masterpiece at the Taylor Memorial Library— “If Walls Could Speak.” 

This exhibition, featuring vibrant paintings, draws inspiration from two books and several albums bearing the same title. 

Coco’s quest to unravel his Italian heritage began with his Sicilian grandmother, who spoke broken English. Determined to “get there” by 40, he embarked on an artistic odyssey to Italy via Portugal. 

Curiously, Coco, who experiences synesthesia, heard the echoing phrase “if walls could speak” wherever he went. 

As he puts it, “It was almost like a musical passage.” 

These artistic journeys, accompanied by his trusty sketch pad, culminated in a travel log of stories—painting vivid portraits of the human condition. 

Coco’s insight into his work is summarized in his own words, “Something that repeats. In the canvases featured here, it’s that archetype of man rising from detraction.”