In his first solo show, “What Doesn’t Kill You, Makes You Stranger”, Aaron Alexander explores his life as a young black man under Corona quarantine and the recent political unrest. Born in the Bronx NY (1996), Aaron Alexander is inspired by cinema, pop culture, and everyday life in NY. Also known as Aaron The GREAT, he is a self-taught artist from the New York area who has been painting for over 7 years.
*NOTE: The gallery is donating all proceeds to THE BLACK ART LIBRARY : An amazing project by Asmaa Walton dedicated to bring artist books about black artists to the people of Detroit.
As fall rolls around, this will be our last show of the season
so pack yer sweater and come howl at the moon with us!
(FOR PRESS RELEASE AND FULL PRICE LIST PLEASE CONTACT US.)
WHAT DOESNT KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRANGER
AARON ALEXANDER
OPENS SATURDAY SEPT 15
(by social distanced appointment only)
Aaron Alexander, also known as Aaron The GREAT , is a self-taught artist from the New York area who has been painting for over 7 years. In his first solo show, “What Doesn’t Kill You, Makes You Stranger”, Alexander explores life as a young black man under Corona quarantine and the recent political unrest.
Born in the Bronx NY (1996), Aaron Alexander is inspired by cinema, pop culture, and everyday life in NY. The artist paints from the heart, hence the immediacy of these cardboard paintings. His use of discarded materials reflects the feeling of being part of a rejected demographic. As a material, cardboard begins life as a homogeneous commercial product but it quickly degrades through use. The artist loves “The way it’s shaped. It’s messed up in the corners. It’s not perfect. It’s a reflection on life.”
Alexander’s paintings are populated by violence, death, ghosts, and humor. His family is from the Caribbean (Jamaica) and spiritual darkness underplays much of his work. In addition to spirituality, the artist grew up watching films like Scarface and anything by Quentin Tarantino. These hyper-violent worlds filter into his paintings and are checked by moments of whimsy and play.
Alexander writes about his creations: “ The mind is a dangerous weapon that can be used against yourself, you didn’t know you had a gun to your head this whole time, is that hysterical or humorous? Appearing to be the silent and soundless person in public, my mind is noisy and sometimes in anguish, which sometimes disrupts my voice. It makes me shallow not to talk to people but people are annoying too. There is external violence, like watching videos on social media or internal violence, like a thought that blooms so badly that demolishes you. So what is this trap I walked into? I love movies, and even though horror isn’t my genre of choice, here I am, creating horror.”
Five years ago Alexander’s family moved to New City in Rockland County NY where the artist has lived without much contact with his first home, the Bronx. It was in New City that he started painting on cardboard in earnest. This is his first gallery exhibition showing works that are both remembrances of times past and tributes to life today under both Corona and political unrest.
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*NOTE: The gallery is donating all proceeds to THE BLACK ART LIBRARY : An amazing project by Asmaa Walton dedicated to bring artist books about black artists to the people of Detroit.
