Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Duncan.
Hi Alex, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a passion for art and began to pursue it seriously in college, where I studied fine art and art history. After college, I moved around a bit, working odd jobs and making art when I could, and I landed in TX in 2020. I don’t really recommend moving to a new state at the beginning of a pandemic, but it gave me time to expand my art practice and focus on growing my passion into a business. I started off doing smaller markets and fairs before joining RTown Gallery in Grapevine as one of their resident artists in January of 2023. Since then, I’ve been exhibiting in shows across Texas and the US, and I’ve got a solo show coming to RTown Gallery in April.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, but the bumps shape us into who we are, right? As an artist, I’m definitely not unique in my struggle with self-doubt. Even now, I’ve still got to give myself pep talks, reminding myself that people wouldn’t be putting my art in their homes if they didn’t like it. It also took me some time to find my audience; for a while, it felt like I was running in place and wasting money doing it. I kept putting myself in spaces where I wasn’t appreciated, and it took doing a ton of research and working to find my community to figure out where I needed to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Over the last few years, I’ve been working mainly in digital college, but lately, I’ve been getting back to my foundations and working in mixed media again. I create a lot of surrealist dreamscapes that play with nostalgia and the memory-emotion connection. I majored in art history with a focus in ancient art, and I think studying how visual language has evolved and what elements have endured over time gives my work a unique way of communicating with viewers.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The isolation we all experienced during Covid really reinforced the importance of community for me. When I moved to Texas in 2020, I didn’t know anybody, and it was hard to find my people while we were all stuck inside. It took quite some time, but I’ve made great friends here, and I wouldn’t have experienced the growth I have without them. It’s incredibly impactful to surround yourself with people who are going to support you in your endeavors; being a dreamer is a whole lot easier when the people in your life believe in the dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: alexduncanart.com
- Instagram: @alexdunkieart
Image Credits
Jackie Loubriel
