COC, or The Colors of Cambodia Art School (est. in 2003) is a distinguished and long-running school developed by American Bill Gentry in response to the absence of arts education in Cambodia. Since its inception, the school has provided free art education to thousands of Khmer children and teenagers, with approximately 1500 students educated each calendar year.

Currently, the Colors of Cambodia School NGO employs seven full-time teachers who, in addition to teaching classes seven days a week at the two-story school along the river, also teach at seven local schools within a half hour radius. For 22 years, the school has endeavored to find and foster the talents of dedicated and serious youngsters and teens who show promise as future artists. The teachers educate a broad survey of students, but also further provide focused education for those who would like to continue their artistic eduction with more sincerity.

This current exhibition highlights the collective of teachers and volunteers, as well as the founder of COC, and serves as a testament to the earnest integrity of the Colors of Cambodia School. The work you will observe in The River Gallery is quite different from that which you’ll find in the local markets in Siem Reap and there are several reasons for this - The first being that the school provides a sense of safety and ample time to explore non-traditional methods. In addition, COC hosts international artists who generously provide workshops, they host weekly art critiques, and have also built an extensive art library for historical art research.

As the largest and longest-running art school in Siem Reap, Colors of Cambodia continues to offer excellence in teaching methodologies as well as art-making.

Please enjoy this survey of work from those closely associated with Colors of Cambodia.

Artists:
Hour Soben
Thy Channarak
Sorm Narath
Loun Lon
Sophany Sor
Sophanin Sor
Bill Gentry
Son Kosal
Set Soeng
Julia Haw