Alex Gross (born August 30, 1968) is a visual artist currently working in Los Angeles, California. He specializes in oil paintings on canvas whose themes include globalization, commerce, beauty, dark mayhem, and the passage of time.[1]

Alex Gross
Born
Alex Gross

(1968-08-30) August 30, 1968 (age 55)
EducationArt Center College of Design
Known forPainter
Websitewww.alexgross.com

Gross 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.[citation needed]

In 2000, Gross received a fellowship from the Japan Foundation.[2] He spent two months traveling throughout Japan, researching and collecting a 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.[3]

In 2006, Chronicle books published The Art of Alex Gross,[4] a monograph featuring Gross' 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,[5] Juxtapoz,[6] Los Angeles Magazine,[7] Communication Arts, Taiwanese magazine XFUNS,[8] and the Los Angeles Times.[9]

In August, 2007. California State Fullerton's Grand Central Art Center hosted a retrospective museum show featuring an array of Gross' work from different periods throughout his career.[10] 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."[11]

Gross' work was also featured in the Laguna Art Museum's exhibition and catalogue "In the land of Retinal Delights", in July, 2008.[12] 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,[13] published by Vintage Books.

References edit

  1. ^ -From "Anarchic Anachronist", by Bruce Sterling, Introduction to The Art of Alex Gross. (2007) ISBN 0-8118-5534-1, Chronicle Books
  2. ^ http://www.pixelsurgeon.com/interviews/interview.php?id=130
  3. ^ -Alex Gross, (2004) Japanese Beauties, ISBN 978-3-8228-3123-6
  4. ^ -Alex Gross (2007) The Art of Alex Gross. ISBN 0-8118-5534-1, Chronicle Books
  5. ^ -Kirsten Anderson. (2005) Pop Surrealism: The Rise of Underground Art. ISBN 0-86719-618-1
  6. ^ -Juxtapoz #67, August 2006 and Juxtapoz #27, July/August 2000
  7. ^ -Los Angeles Magazine, April 2007, page 100 Shelf Life
  8. ^ -XFUNS issue #39, December 2008
  9. ^ -Los Angeles Times, Art section, review of the "Raising the Brow" show at Earl McGrath Gallery, January 30th, 2004
  10. ^ "Alex Gross Retrospective, Bruce Linn - Better Angels and Worse Demons and Local Motion".
  11. ^ http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/gross-one-japanese-1795035-painting-culture
  12. ^ -"In the Land of Retinal Delights, The Juxtapoz Factor", ISBN 978-0-940872-34-9
  13. ^ -Haruki Murakami, (2008) After Dark, Vintage Books, ISBN 978-0-307-27873-9

External links edit