Alex Donis
Past Artist In Residence
2011

Guest Curator for Collaboration Labs: Southern California Artists & The Artist Space Movement, 2011-2012

Alex Donis is a visual artist dealing with the boundaries between sexuality, religion and cultural relationships. He is influenced by his tri-cultural experience (Pop, Latin and Queer). His works have been met with controversy over the years. In 1997, two paintings from his show “My Altar” were vandalized and destroyed, including pictures of Jesus and Rama, plus Cesar Chavez and Che Guevara, locked in a homosexual embrace. His work met more opposition in 2001 one when displaying his series titled “War”, in which he painted various scenes of gang members provocatively dancing with LAPD officers. The show opened at the Watts Towers Art Center but was closed when a community group threatened protests against the work. Despite this conflict Donis stresses that his work is, “to show how love could infect everything.” Provocation truly takes a back seat when the message of acceptance that permeates his work is understood.

Alex has been awarded residencies at the University of Texas, Austin; the Brandywine Institute, Philadelphia; and Artspace, Sydney, Australia.

Website