Alexi Torres

Alexi Torres is an artist from Cuba.^[1] He is known for his oil paintings that are painted to appear as if knitted and woven.^{[citation needed]} His artistic inspiration is derived from everyday, organic objects, such as leaves, feathers, basket weavings, and cloth. It is driven by a love of nature and his dedication to perfecting a unique technique of oil painting.

Inspired by his upbringing, Torres views the art making process as planting an idea and harvesting it. He builds the stretchers, stretches the canvases, and primes them himself. As his ancestors did during the harvest, he starts and finishes each work following the cycle of the waning moon.^[2]

Alexi Torres was born in 1976 in Matanzas, Cuba. He attended the Elemental School of Art in Matanzas, Cuba (1989-1991) and the National School of Arts in Havana, Cuba (1991-1995.) He has had solo exhibitions around the world. His work has also been featured in several group exhibitions and held in the collections of famous figures, such as Will Smith. In fact, in the ABC special from November 19, 2013 featuring magician, David Blaine, Jada Pinkett Smith and the whole family are standing in front of the painting, ReAmerica, while Will Smith, David Blaine, and Jada are performing the illusion.^[3][4]

Torres currently lives and works in Georgia and Zancudo, Costa Rica. He has shown his work at several art fairs including the Miami International Art Fair, Scope Art Fair, Arthamptons, Art Southamptons, Aspen Fine Art Fair, Palm Beach Art Fair, San Francisco Fine Art Fair, Art Palm Springs, and the Houston Fine Art Fair. He is represented by Contessa Gallery.^[4]

Works

Torres' painting Reamerica depicts an American flag with a selection of objects, brands and symbols made of basket weaving. Redream shows a young couple resting on a flag mattress. Lucky Bill is a twelve foot long two dollar bill. Like many of his other pieces, they are painted in a basket weaving design.^[5]

His most recent bodies of work are two series We Buy Gold (2013) and We Buy Silver. (2013) The titles of these series were inspired by signs seen by the artist that proclaim "We Buy Gold" and "We Buy Silver." The paintings included present the faces of artists and other historical figures on the faces of coins. They commemorate these celebrated individuals and honor the value of their contributions to the world. They are propositions to use money to buy values. The artist painted portraits of the artist and not the works to encourage others to treasure the human soul more than his or her works.^[6]

References

Notes

Further reading

• Anderson, Jon (February 19, 2013). "Southern Voices Festival kicks off tonight with artist reception for Alexi Torres". Al.com. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
• "Art With A Conscience: Alexi Torres' Woven Paintings". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
• "Evan Lurie Exhibits Alexi Torres at Art Palm Beach 2012". What's Up Miami. January 22, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
• "Juxtapoz Magazine - "Woven" Oil Works by Alexi Torres". Juxtapoz.com. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-07-21.

External links

• Jason Soy (2012-02-08). "Interwoven Face Illustrations - Alexi Torres Paints Portraits Resembling Burlap Sculptures (Gallery)". Trendhunter.com. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
• "The Woven Oil Paintings of Alexi Torres | Colossal". Thisiscolossal.com. 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
• "Update: New Art Shows in Havana, Tomas Sanchez in Madrid, and Cuban Women Talk Baseball". 2013-07-11. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
• "Alexi Torres Biography". Archived from the original on 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
• "Artist's Statement". Archived from the original on 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2013-07-29.