Alex Galindo

Working primarily in painting and illustration, I am influenced by the seemingly mundane; reflections on glass bottles, bi-monthly trips to Costco, and the way dandelions grow through concrete. Through the use of bold, vivid color palettes, I challenge dullness by romanticizing aspects of life that are often overlooked. Careful attention to detail contrasts with unorthodox, bright colors to create a compelling yet familiar perspective. By employing a semi-realistic style in my artwork, I experiment with the balance between the picturesque and the commonplace to emphasize the beauty in the ordinary.

As an artist who has struggled with mental illness for nearly half of their life, I’ve spent more time constantly overthinking things than actually creating art. I have learned to overcome this paralysis of choice by going with the flow of my creativity; once I decide on my subject, I don’t plan anything. I might lay down a simple sketch, but I choose the colors as I go. This improvisation is like a form of therapy as I allow myself to get lost in my creative process of intentional chaos.

The world needs more positivity and inspiration. My art is about  trying to have a positive outlook on life and finding joy in mundane things. My art focuses on romanticizing life because no one else is going to do that for you. Through my subject matter I want to celebrate the little things in life like going on a boba tea run or finding a cool rock outside.

I am inspired by people like Marie Kondo; the simplistic lifestyle she promotes motivates me to practice mindfulness in my art. I celebrate what sparks joy in my own heart and aim to capture that emotion in my artwork. I try to make my own life match what I want it to be, so I strive for my art to reflect that notion of manifesting an idealized life.