Carlos Tchale Figueira was born in 1953 at S. Vicente, Cape Verde.

From 1974 to 1985 he lived and worked in Basel, Switzerland and attended the Basel School of Fine Arts (1976-1979). From 1985 on, Tchalê settled in Mindelo, Cape Verde where he currently lives and works.

Apart from visual arts, Tchale is also a renowned writer and poet. In 1992 he published "Todos os naufrágios do Mundo" (All the shipwrecks of the World) and in 1998 "Onde os sentimentos se encontram".

In 2001 Tchale published his poetry book "O azul e o mar".

In 2008 he was awarded the Prix Fondation Blanchère at the DAK ART Biennale.