Through his abstract work, Florida-based painter Todd Alexander encourages curiosity, contemplation and a deeper awareness of ourselves and the world around us.
Artist: Born in Chicago, Alexander grew up in Atlanta in a creative family. His mother painted. So did both grandmothers, but not professionally.
At a young age, Alexander experimented with watercolor and oil mediums, and also hand-thrown pottery.
He then pursued scientific illustration at the University of Georgia. After graduating, he began working in the medical illustration field in Atlanta.
“I always knew I wanted to pursue a career as a fine artist,” said Alexander. “But I also understood that I needed to establish myself financially while figuring out how to navigate the art world.”
Moving to Atlanta gave him the opportunity to explore the city’s gallery scene, attend openings and build relationships with established artists and others in that creative community.
Through one of those connections, Alexander found studio space in the old Mattress Factory warehouse, where he worked for eight years.
In 2016, Alexander moved to Fernandina Beach, FL, where he works in his much smaller home studio.
Art & materials:
- For works on paper: acrylic paint, compressed charcoal, vine charcoal, chalk pastel and gel medium ($2,100).
- For canvas and wood panels: oil paint and oil pastels ($5,000 to $84,000).
“I create paintings, drawings, and hybrids of the two,” said Alexander.
Tools: Oil sticks and charcoal.
Inspirations:
- Alexander’s own experience, especially his personal journey through meditation and self-awareness.
- Artist: Anselm Kiefer, for his monumental scale, palette, materials, and the dialogue between his paintings and sculptures, which create an immersive experience.
- Photographer: Joel-Peter Witkin, for mark-making – his drawing and scratching directly into the photographic surface.
- Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright’s approach to interior and exterior space.
Special commission: A large-scale, 25-foot panoramic mixed-media collage for the Novotel Hotel in Manhattan.
The piece was commissioned for the lobby and brought together symbols of renewal and rebirth from different cultures around the world.
Recent show: Atlanta Art Fair.
Where to buy: Jennifer Balcos Gallery, Palm Beach, FL.
Connect:
- Artist website: Toddalexanderart.com
- Instagram: @Toddalexanderart
