Photo: JasonShawnAlexander

Every great painter, from Gauguin to de Kooning, has struggled to find a footing between figuration and abstraction. Described by many as an expressionist -figurative painter, Jason Shawn Alexander is no exception. Alexander’s paintings place hyper realistic figures in an abstract expressionist background – a sort of Chuck Close meets Joan Mitchell. The surfaces are worked with painterly brushstrokes and layers of rich oil paint. At 35, this artist is about to debut a large solo exhibition at the Miami based art gallery, 101/exhibit.

This exhibit, Undertow, will mark Alexander’s third show at the same gallery that gave the him his first solo show back in 2009. Gallery owner, Sloan Schaffer, has been a fan of Alexander’s for years and is very pleased to be debuting his most recent body of work.

Alexander’s newest paintings are full of energy and emotion. Many of the images are dark and brooding and the figures often look contemplatively off to the side or into the distance. The skin of his figures is fully expressive with red overtones and accents that make the flesh look raw and alive. To stand in front of one of these pieces would make even the most shallow person turn somewhat introspective, if even just for a moment.

Make sure to mark your calendars – the show is open from December 2 through February 8 at 101 NE 40 Street in Miami.

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