KCHO, Born 'Alexis Leiva Machado on the Isla de Pinos is a contemporary Cuban artist. Kcho has had art showings around the world. He first attracted international attention by winning the grand prize at South Korea's Kwangju Biennial in 1995. Alexis Leiva Machado was born in Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud, on February 12th, 1970. Son of Ignacio de Loyola Leiva Abreu, a carpenter and telecommunication technician, and Martina Primitiva Machado Cun�, better known as Martha Camacho, a tireless, hardworking woman and popular artist, he grew up alongside four other sisters in a humble and working environment. He did his elementary education in two primary schools, Josu� Pa�s and Manuel Alcolea, and his secondary education at the Elementary Art School Leonardo Luberta, in his home town. In 1986, he enrolled in the National School of Plastic Arts in Havana, and graduated in 1990 specializing in painting and sculpture. At the age of sixteen, he marks the start of his career with the personal exhibition: Kcho expone favelas, at the Centre of Plastic Arts in Nueva Gerona in the year 1986. 

Nueva Gerona (Age 54)