Life & Work with Alex Breaux

Alex Breaux

Deciding what medium spoke to me the most was a huge challenge for me. Before grad school, I rarely ever painted. I had only taken one beginner painting class during my undergrad years; I took every class you could think of, such as printmaking, film photography, and ceramics. Despite taking these classes multiple semesters in a row, my expressive voice felt unheard in each medium. It wasn’t until after I graduated as an undergrad in 2020 that I picked up a paintbrush again. I had no idea what I was doing, so there was a lot of learning along the way. Oil painting is a costly and challenging medium, requiring lots of practice. I painted painting after painting and knew instantly that this medium felt right when creating my work. The vibrant colors of the paint saturate the memories, allowing me to manipulate the recollection when It comes to me. Which, in return, teaches me to be more patient with my art and day-to-day life, letting the paint lead the way.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently getting my Masters in Fine Arts at FIU. When I’m not in class, I practically live in my studio, painting daily. My work divulges the shift in my identity rooted in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina and the various storms that come with growing up, looking back on childhood, and highlighting the people and culture of the city. I show this by painting city traditions such as celebrating Mardi Gras and spending time at the camp, which I loved doing as a kid. Using oil paint throughout my practice allows me to let loose and let the fluidity of the paint speak for me and my memories. I am mindful of where I place objects in my paintings and work section by section to bring a memory to life / retell a story from my time in the city. How I conceptualize a narrative in my paintings draws people into my artwork and engages them from one corner to another on the canvas. However, my work over the last few months has focused more on Miami. I have been bringing more attention to mundane objects that we often ignore—bringing out life’s simple pleasures and adding value to the personal items we pay little attention to.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Engagement with the art community is the best way to support any artist and collaborate, whether sharing my work on social media with audiences it has yet to reach or starting a conversation. I appreciate all the feedback I can get, whether it’s the perception someone has of my work or how a piece has made them feel. You can follow me on my socials to follow my process and progress.