Steven Alexander
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Bio
Steven Alexander is a painter who makes abstract paintings characterized by simple geometric configurations, luminous color and sensuous surfaces. He holds an MFA in painting from Columbia University, where he studied with Richard Pousette-Dart and Dore Ashton among others, and a BA from Austin College, where he studied with Vernon Fisher. His work has been exhibited and collected extensively throughout the US and abroad. His awards include a studio residency at P.S.1 in Long Island City, and an F. Lammot Belin Foundation grant for painting, as well as numerous commissions including the lobby of the Hines Building in New York City. Currently an Associate Professor of Art at Marywood University, he has been Artist in Residence at Studio Art Centers International in Florence and Visiting Artist at Parsons School of Design in New York. He maintains a home and studio in the hills of eastern Pennsylvania.
Gallery Statement / Profile
At first glance Steven Alexander’s paintings seem to be straightforward, colorful and geometric. However, closer inspection reveals a multitude of polarities, between the masculine grid and sensual palette; smooth surfaces with textured edges; luminous colors next to soft powdery hues; the appearance of pure color from a distance and the richness and depth of many layers of color up close. These tensions engage and hold the viewer and allow one to go beyond just “seeing” the colors to actually “experiencing” the painting. The lush, sensuous hues in large and small blocks on canvas with the surprising depth of under-color transforms a classic formal element, the square, into an entirely new and fresh visual experience. Each block of color is created organically, painted layer by layer and color by color, which is why the oppositions that are presented work so well, because ultimately, everything is in balance, harmony is achieved in each composition.
Steven Alexander holds an MFA in painting from Columbia University, where he studied with Richard Pousette-Dart and Dore Ashton among others. His artwork has been presented in over 20 solo exhibitions and included in numerous group exhibitions in New York, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Baltimore, Miami, Florence, Italy and Takasaki, Japan among other cities. His work has been collected extensively throughout the US and abroad. Alexander’s awards include a studio residency at P.S.1 in Long Island City and a Belin Foundation grant for painting, as well as numerous commissions including major works for the Hines Building in New York City, the Liberty Mutual Building in Boston, and the MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston. Currently a Professor of Visual Arts at Marywood University, he has been Artist in Residence at Studio Art Centers International in Florence and Visiting Artist at Parsons School of Design in New York. He maintains a home and studio in the hills of eastern Pennsylvania.
CV/BIO
b. 1953
Lives and works in Dalton, Pennsylvania, USA
Education:
Columbia University, New York City, MFA
Austin College, Sherman, Texas, BA
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2013 David Richard Gallery, Santa Fe, Slave to Love
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Terraplane
2012 David Findlay Jr Gallery, New York City, Recent Paintings
2011 Heidi Cho Gallery, New York City, 2-Person,
Steven Alexander & Taro Suzuki: Paintings
2010 Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Brooks Run to the Ocean...
Morpeth Contemporary Gallery, Hopewell, NJ, Paintings
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Dallas, Vibrolux
2007 Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, World At Large
2006 Test Pattern Gallery, Scranton, Echo Systems
2004 Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Terra Sutra
2002 Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, As What Is
2001 Mahady Contemporary Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton,
The Belin Project
Gremillion Gallery, Austin, Andalucia
2000 Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Notes From Toscana
1999 AFA Gallery, Scranton, Recent Paintings
1997 Suraci Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton, Figure Paintings
1995 Kings College, Wilkes Barre, Paintings
1994 Roxx Gallery, Baltimore, Paintings
1992 Amdur Gallery, Austin, Recent Paintings
1986 Waterfront Studio, Brooklyn, Collages
1982 161 Gallery, New York City, Recent Paintings
1978 P.S. 1, Long Island City, Monks, Crows & Pilgrims, studio installation
1977 Columbia University Campus Sites, New York City, 3 Outdoor Situations
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2013 David Findlay Jr Gallery, New York City, Steven Alexander, Logan Grider &
Robert Reed
Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, Paperazzi 2
2012 David Findlay Jr Gallery, New York City, SummerSet 2012
Gremillion & Co Fine Art, Houston, 20 Artists
Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, Paperazzi
2011 David Findlay Jr Fine Art, New York City,
Crane Arts Center, Philadelphia, American Abstract Artists: Abstraction8
McKenzie Fine Art, New York City, Plane Speaking
Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, Paper 2011
R&F Gallery, Kingston, NY, Conversations
2010 Salao de Artes, Galeria Murilo Castro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Heidi Cho Gallery, New York City, As You Like It - Part II
Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, Paper Works
David Richard Contemporary, Santa Fe, Op, Pop & Geo Again
Gallery OneTwentyEight, New York City, Geometric Themes and Variations
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Works On Paper
New Arts Program Gallery, Kutztown, PA, Small Works Invitational
2009 Denise Bibro Platform, New York City, Blogpix
Gallery OneTwentyEight, New York City, Geometrics II
Heidi Cho Gallery, New York City, Project Room
Pocket Utopia, Brooklyn, 246 Editions
2007 SACI Gallery, Florence, Italy, Invitational
2006 Scope/Miami International Art Fair, Heidi Cho Gallery, NYC
Heidi Cho Gallery, New York City, summer group
2004 Heidi Cho Gallery, New York City, summer group
2003 Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Forty
2001 Institute for International Education, New York City, invitational
1999 Gremillion Gallery, Austin, Inaugural Exhibition
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, Gallery Group
1998 Everhart Museum, Scranton, Art X 12
1996 The Painting Center, New York City, National Juried Show
1994 Takasaki Art Center College, Takasaki, Japan, Strength In Diversity
1993 Inman Gallery, Houston, Small Works Invitational
1992 Janus Gallery, Santa Fe, gallery group
D-Art Visual Arts Center, Dallas, 1992 Critic's Choice
1991 Sena Galleries, Santa Fe, Summer Invitational
1990 Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, Austin Annual
1989 Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, Austin Annual
1975 Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth, Tarrant County Annual
1974 Oklahoma Art Museum, Oklahoma City, Eight State Biennial
Art Museum of South Texas, Port Arthur, Five State Annual
Awards & Selected Commissions:
2013 Commission, Liberty Mutual Building, Boston
2012 Commission, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Austin
2010 Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Discipline Field, Marywood University
2009 Artist-In-Residence, Studio Art Centers International, Florence
2008 Commission, Hines Building, New York City
Commission, MD Anderson Medical Center, Houston
2002 Commission, Mercedes Benz Corporation, USA
2000 Belin Foundation Grant for Painting
1984 Summer Studio Residency, P.S. 122, New York City
1977-78 Studio Residency, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City
Publications:
2013 Lêdo Ivo: MORMAÇO, Paintings by Steven Alexander, published by Contra Cappa Livraria LTDA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Selected Collections:
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston
Continental Airlines, Newark
Continental Airlines, Atlanta
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Austin
Hines Interests, New York City
Liberty Mutual, Boston
Mercedes Benz Corporation, USA
MD Anderson Medical Center, Houston
And numerous private collections throughout the US and abroad
Selected Bibliography:
Holzman, Eric, "Terraplane: The Paintings of Steven Alexander", Steven Alexander: Terraplane, exhibition catalog,
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, 2013
Mattera, Joanne, "Building Geometry: Steven Alexander, Warren Isensee, Chris Johanson, Christian Maychack", Joanne Mattera Art Blog,
October 10, 2012
Frank, Peter, "Steven Alexander: Presence", Steven Alexander: Recent Paintings, exhibition catalog, David Findlay Jr Gallery,
New York City, 2012
Rooney, Ashley E., 100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2011
Robinson, Walter, "Weekend Update", Artnet.com Magazine, January 10, 2011
Mattera, Joanne, "It's A Plane! (Part 2 of 3)", Joanne Mattera Art Blog, January 19, 2011
Beck, Kate, "The Paintings of Steven Alexander", Steven Alexander: Brooks Run to the Ocean..., exhibition catalog,
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, 2010
Mattera, Joanne, "What I Saw This Summer, Part 4: Studio Visit with Pam Farrell and Steven Alexander", Joanne Mattera Art Blog,
September 3, 2009
Beck, Kate, "Color as it Happens: Steven Alexander and Willy Bo Richardson", Kate Beck Art Notes online, August 10, 2009
Rywalt, Chris, "GeoMetrics II" , NYC Art online, March 25, 2009
Mattera, Joanne, "Awash in Color: Roy G. Biv and Friends", Joanne Mattera Art Blog, May 28, 2008
Wei, Lilly, "Color, Actually",Steven Alexander: World At Large, exhibition catalog, Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, 2007
Forart, "Steven Alexander at Test Pattern", Electric City Renaissance, online review, June 2006
Steven Alexander: Terra Sutra, exhibition catalog, Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, 2004
Steven Alexander: As What Is, exhibition catalog, Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston, 2002
Barnes, Michael, "Alexander's Andalucia", Austin American Statesman, May 12, 2001
Steven Alexander: Andalucia, exhibition catalog, Gremillion Gallery, Austin 2001
1992 Critic's Choice, exhibition catalog, D-Art Visual Arts Center, Dallas 1992
Levy, Rebecca, "The Artst's Eye", Austin Chronicle, October 25, 1991
Whittaker, Michael, "That's Pretty Great", Austin Chronicle, September 15, 1989
Palmer, Robert, "The Pop Life", The New York Times, June 23, 1982
Shore, Michael, "How Does It Look? How Does It Sound?", ARTnews, November 1980
Rockwell, John, "Model Citizens", The New York Times, September 11, 1979
Teaching & Lectures:
Present Professor of Visual Arts, Marywood University, Scranton
2005 Visiting Professor at Studio Art Centers International, Florence
2003 Visiting Artist at Parsons School of Design, New York City
1999 Visiting Professor at Studio Art Centers International, Florence
1996 Taught Painting at Marywood University/France, Anjou & Paris
1990-1993 Adjunct Professor of Art at Austin Community College, Austin
Writing & Curating:
2008-13 STEVEN ALEXANDER JOURNAL - Selected reviews and observations regarding contemporary art and culture, published
online at http://StevenAlexanderJournal.blogspot.com/
2013 "James Perry: Constructing Space", catalog essay for the exhibition James Perry: Recent Sculpture,
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Houston
2012 "Gonçalo Ivo: Monumental Acts of Devotion", essay translated to Portuguese and French for the monograph Gonçalo Ivo: Oratório,
published by Contra Cappa Livraria LTDA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2011 "Theodoros Stamos: Mapping Infinity and More", catalog essay, 499 Park Avenue Gallery, New York City
2010 "The Paintings of Gonçalo Ivo", catalog essay for Gonçalo Ivo: Paintings and Objects exhibition catalog, translated to Portuguese
and published by Multiart Gallery, Fortaleza, Brazil
2010 "New York School Redux", catalog essay for New York School Redux exhibition, 499 Park Avenue Gallery, New York City
2009 "The Altered Landscape", catalog essay for The Altered Landscape exhibition, 499 Park Avenue Gallery, New York City
2009 "CrossCurrents: Ann Pachner and Emily Cheng", catalog essay for CrossCurrents exhibition, 499 Park Avenue Gallery,
New York City
2007 Gary Komarin's Zone of Continuity", catalog essay for Gary Komarin: Mexican Thoughts exhibition catalog, published by
Gail Severn Gallery, Sun Valley
2001 "Painting, With the Figure", catalog essay for Five Figure Painters exhibition catalog, published by AFA Gallery, Scranton
2000 Curator and essayist for NATURE: Contemporary Art & the Natural World, exhibition brochure published by Contemporary Gallery,
Marywood University, including works by Per Kirkeby, Eugene Leroy, Maya Lin, Judy Pfaff, Milton Resnick, Susan Rothenberg,
Joan Snyder, Pat Steir, Don Van Vleit, Terry Winters
1997 Curator and catalog essayist for The Poetic Object: Paintings of Rebecca Purdum, exhibition catalog published by
Contemporary Gallery, Marywood University
1976 Edited and designed ROOMS P.S.1, catalog for the inaugural "Rooms" exhibition at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center,
Long Island City, published by the Institute for Art and Urban Resources, New York City