Alex Gross
Encyclopedia
Alex Gross is a visual artist currently working in Los Angeles, California
. He specializes in oil paintings on canvas whose themes include globalization, commerce, great beauty, dark mayhem, and the remorseless passage of time.
Alex graduated in 1990 from Art Center College of Design
, in Pasadena, California
. Since then, he has become established as an artist in the Pop Surrealism movement (See also lowbrow
.)
In the year 2000, he received a fellowship from the Japan Foundation. He spent two months traveling throughout Japan
, researching and collecting a wide variety of Japanese Fine and Commercial art, as research for his own artwork. Part of his collection was compiled and published by Taschen
under the title Japanese Beauties in 2004.
In 2007, Chronicle books published The Art of Alex Gross, a monograph featuring Alex's painting, drawing and printmaking from 1999 through 2007. Science Fiction author Bruce Sterling
penned the introduction to the book. His art has been featured in numerous publications including the book Pop Surrealism, Juxtapoz, Los Angeles Magazine, Communication Arts
, Taiwanese magazine XFUNS, and The Los Angeles Times.
In August, 2007. California State Fullerton's Grand Central Art Center hosted a retrospective museum show featuring an array of Alex's work from different periods throughout his career. In a review of the museum show, the Orange County Register wrote that "Gross' work is highly representational and, unlike many of his contemporaries lumped into the so-called low-brow art niche, he is an excellent draftsman. He also demands that one know a bit about world culture, history and politics and have the wit to appreciate his sense of irony."
His work was also featured in the Laguna Art Museum's exhibition and catalogue "In the land of Retinal Delights", in July, 2008. His work has been featured on the cover of the band Blonde Redhead's
album 23, as well as on the cover of the paperback version of "After Dark"
, the national bestseller by Haruki Murakami
, published by Vintage Books.
Alex currently exhibits at the Jonathan Levine Gallery
in New York.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He specializes in oil paintings on canvas whose themes include globalization, commerce, great beauty, dark mayhem, and the remorseless passage of time.
Alex graduated in 1990 from Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
, in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. Since then, he has become established as an artist in the Pop Surrealism movement (See also lowbrow
Lowbrow (art movement)
Lowbrow, or lowbrow art, describes an underground visual art movement that arose in the Los Angeles, California, area in the late 1970s. Lowbrow is a widespread populist art movement with origins in the underground comix world, punk music, hot-rod street culture, and other subcultures. It is also...
.)
In the year 2000, he received a fellowship from the Japan Foundation. He spent two months traveling throughout Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, researching and collecting a wide variety of Japanese Fine and Commercial art, as research for his own artwork. Part of his collection was compiled and published by Taschen
Taschen
Taschen is an art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. It began as Taschen Comics publishing Benedikt's extensive comic collection...
under the title Japanese Beauties in 2004.
In 2007, Chronicle books published The Art of Alex Gross, a monograph featuring Alex's painting, drawing and printmaking from 1999 through 2007. Science Fiction author Bruce Sterling
Bruce Sterling
Michael Bruce Sterling is an American science fiction author, best known for his novels and his work on the Mirrorshades anthology, which helped define the cyberpunk genre.-Writings:...
penned the introduction to the book. His art has been featured in numerous publications including the book Pop Surrealism, Juxtapoz, Los Angeles Magazine, Communication Arts
Communication Arts
Communication Arts is the largest international trade journal of visual communications. Founded in 1959 by Richard Coyne and Robert Blanchard, the magazine’s coverage includes graphic design, advertising, photography, illustration and interactive media. The magazine continues to be edited and...
, Taiwanese magazine XFUNS, and The Los Angeles Times.
In August, 2007. California State Fullerton's Grand Central Art Center hosted a retrospective museum show featuring an array of Alex's work from different periods throughout his career. In a review of the museum show, the Orange County Register wrote that "Gross' work is highly representational and, unlike many of his contemporaries lumped into the so-called low-brow art niche, he is an excellent draftsman. He also demands that one know a bit about world culture, history and politics and have the wit to appreciate his sense of irony."
His work was also featured in the Laguna Art Museum's exhibition and catalogue "In the land of Retinal Delights", in July, 2008. His work has been featured on the cover of the band Blonde Redhead's
Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace , which formed in New York City in 1993....
album 23, as well as on the cover of the paperback version of "After Dark"
After Dark (novel)
is a novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. It was originally published in 2004.-Plot summary:Alienation, a recurring motif in the works of Murakami, is the central theme in this novel set in metropolitan Tokyo over the course of one night. Main characters include Mari, a 19-year-old student,...
, the national bestseller by Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami
is a Japanese writer and translator. His works of fiction and non-fiction have garnered him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Franz Kafka Prize and Jerusalem Prize among others.He is considered an important figure in postmodern literature...
, published by Vintage Books.
Alex currently exhibits at the Jonathan Levine Gallery
Jonathan LeVine
Jonathan LeVine is a New York City art dealer. As of 2005, he owns and operates the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, in the Chelsea area of Manhattan...
in New York.