The Art of Alex Kowalczyk

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Artist Statement

“I attempt to evoke feelings of disarray and beauty with my work. Each piece explores the use of acrylics, oil paints, and mixed-media through a contemporary blend of different art styles. I typically begin a piece with a lot of movement. The abstract elements that make up the background reflect my emotions as I navigate the ups and downs of my current life situations. I then couple the visual representation of my mood with a more real world subject to depict the specific meaning of that piece. My body of work does not exhibit one feeling or mood. Rather it shows harmony versus conflict. It holds themes of spontaneity, anxiety, and excitement found while taking the road less traveled. Here’s to being young, launching careers, and discovering who we are and what life has in store for us.”

Alex is inspired by the juxtaposition of chaos and serenity.

“Art is created to strike a chord within the viewer, catching their eye, then resonating with their heart and spirit.”

If you are interested in purchasing an original piece that is listed as "FOR SALE" you can contact Alex at alexkdesigns13@gmail.com

Prints for sale on the page.

Find process clips on Alex’s Instagram.

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Repercussions

an exhibition by Alex Kowalczyk

Chelsea, NYC

Repercussions is inspired by the artist’s reactions towards her allergy to acrylic and latex paint. After years of acrylic materials coming in contact with her skin through hobbies, her art practice, and work as a scenic painter, the over exposure caused her body to develop a severe allergy. The installation describes the journey of digesting this new information and how to move forward utilizing the acrylic mediums while coping with new obstacles. Three un-stretched canvases escape off the walls becoming their own entities in the room with you. Intangible feelings of anger, irritation, sadness, and growth are abstracted into two dimensional works, with the addition of small found objects. The pieces then manifest into 3D sculptures protruding up from a paint spill on the floor. Amongst the sculptures are the actual tools the artist used to create the installation now consumed by white latex paint. The work juxtaposes challenging circumstances with underlying beauty and humor.

Aversion

Mixed Media on Canvas

Aversion describes the abrupt confrontation of reality upon the diagnosis. The color palette reflects feelings of anger and irritation( both emotional and physical). Within the overwhelming colors and textures are representational marks depicting different symptoms of the allergy. The small red arches represent the red rings that first appear under the artist's finger nail when coming in contact with the acrylic based paints. The almost pulsating circles represent the next phase, one of throbbing fingers and hands. In this work the small circular cut-outs are meant to portray peeling skin and have a red backing to show the peeling and bleeding of the fingernails after prolonged exposure.

Cope

Mixed Media on Canvas

Cope shows the emotional state following the anger and annoyance of receiving the diagnosis. After the initial reaction followed a quieter time. A time of self reflection. Feelings of sadness and blame crept into the artist's mind. ‘This is my fault’, ‘I could have avoided it’, ‘I did this to myself’, ‘I need to find a different job that doesn’t poison me on a daily basis’. While still having heavy texture and mark making, this work carries a more serene tone as the artist quiets her mind to figure out what coping mechanisms are needed to move forward. The singular large cut out represents getting the symptoms under control and reducing these scatterbrained thoughts on how to still follow your passions, but with a prominent hindrance.

Growth

Mixed Media on Canvas
Growth depicts softness and acceptance with whispers of chaos once in a while. The questioning and blaming aspects of it all will still circulate the mind, but you have to look for beauty and a silver lining in negative circumstances. This piece leaves more space to breathe. There is more space for acceptance and finding new ways to continue pursuing your passions. While it was and still is a daily challenge to the artist, the emotional growth is something that came unexpectedly from this journey.

Paint-percussions

Paint-percussions is the floor piece that weaves a sense of humor into this otherwise serious topic. The white latex paint spills across the floor as something like an accident. This is related to the artist’s experience because well… It WAS an accident. The overuse and over exposure to these acrylic and latex chemicals ultimately caused the allergy. Rising out of the spill are three dimensional representations of each painting/feeling, adding to the sense that these emotions are always in the room with you. The forms were inspired by the mark making and mood of their corresponding 2D partner. Below the protruding sculptures lies the materials and tools the artist used throughout creating Repercussions. The tools that are used to hold or prevent paint from getting on the skin are now swallowed by it instead. The original floors in this specific display area were originally a solid gray. The artist chose to pull from her scenic painting skill set to transform the floor into a wood planked one instead. This brings in another visual representation of the artist’s work field which was a main contributor to the over exposure to acrylic materials.