183 - Alex Merchant, "Magic Beans Baby,' Collage, Value: $400

183

Title:  "Magic Beans Baby"

Artist:  Alex Merchant

Media:  Handcut photograph collage

Dimensions:  10" x 13.25"

Value: $400

As an artist deeply grounded in social context, Alex Merchant tries to form linear connections between his past and present experiences. He is largely influenced by his upbringing in the midwest—an area heavily impacted by race-politics and industrial commerce. Abandoned factories, schools, and business buildings in US metropolitan areas act as narratives for revealing the factors that impact the contemporary urban landscape. His interests have led Alex across different parts of the globe to explore the social, economic, and visual relationships between minority groups and place. His art incorporates a wide range of media, historical documents, pop iconography, and current events in order to demystify the politics in geography.

This collage integrates letterforms, baskteball shoes, and photographs into chevron patterns. Hidden within the collage are three words, the letters alternating black and white as they flow across different source paper: Magic, Beans, Baby.

As an artist deeply grounded in race and gender theory, Alex Merchant attempts to bridge connections between seemingly endless cultural miscommunication. With any culture, language plays a key role in shaping both individual ideology and group think. Influenced by his upbringing in the midwest-an area heavily impacted by race-politics and industrial commerce — Alex measures those experiences against his current home in a contemporary urban landscape. His art incorporates a wide range of media, historical documents, pop iconography, and current events in order to demystify the politics of geography. Alex currently works as a student affairs professional for New York University in New York City. http://www.alexmerchant.art/

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