Alejandro Cardenas
b. 1977, Chile
The paintings and sculptures realized by Alejandro Cardenas (b. 1977, Santiago, Chile) provide a vision of a post-human world wherein the relationship between human forms and the environment is one of unity and coexistence. Guided by his own imagination and inspired by a wide variety of influences ranging from Surrealism to Sci-Fi to magical realism, Cardenas immerses himself in the creation of surreal, post-human scenes of polished, gridded interiors populated by eerie, angular figures. Cardenas' unique approach to figuration places his signature humanoids—narrow, wire-frame silhouettes wrapped in colorful patterns of zigzagging lines—calmly reclining, sitting, or standing within minimalist architectural environments. Unlike us, these faceless humanoids appear to lack all sensory organs, yet they are not deprived of their sensorial abilities. Instead, they convey emotion through body language, resulting in a wide variety of suggested emotional expression.
Alejandro Cardenas completed his BFA at the Cooper Union School of Art in 2000. Before becoming a full time studio painter, Cardenas had a successful career as a multimedia artist, working in illustration, graphic design, and videography. For over a decade, Cardenas served as the lead textile designer and art director for the influential fashion label Proenza Schouler. He was also a founding member of Lansing-Dreiden, a New York-based transdisciplinary art collective that produced musical albums, a literary journal, and artworks. Reviews of his art and design projects have appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, AnOther Magazine, and more.
Alejandro Cardenas currently lives and works in upstate New York.