ALEX SUGAR

STILL DOWN UNDER

solo exhibition

August 2nd - September 1st, 2024

Opening Reception: First Friday, August 2nd from 5pm - 9pm

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Arch Enemy Arts presents STILL DOWN UNDER by Alex Sugar, seven fantastically rendered still life paintings of seemingly disparate objects–odds and ends one might find in the pantry, antiques from their grandmother’s cabinet, or nostalgia from an artist’s shelf imaginatively staged with flora and fauna from the Australian landscape. His unconventional groupings framed with razor-sharp titles inspire narratives that feel both classic and contemporary, refined and psychedelic, and encourage our search for meaning. 

 

“The Massacre,” for instance, depicts a lava lamp of jellyfish on a table of marbled waves. Surrounded by cool blue and crisply rendered animals of the Great Barrier Reef, the heat from the lamp casts a warm and shallow glow that could ultimately be their demise. In “Salute,” the eyes of a wise owl reflect the master of surrealism, and a kookaburra in “The Local” is perched on the quintessentially Aussie snack. 

 

“My inspiration comes from a merge of influences: Dutch Golden Age still life paintings, street and graffiti culture, daily observations, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. These paintings reconstruct my personal stories, blending real and imagined worlds with monochrome aesthetics and vibrant color highlights to inspire curiosity, imagination, and to support new perspectives on familiar depictions…[begging] the question: How might a deeper appreciation of daily scenes and natural beauty transform our perspective on our environments?”

 

Alex Sugar is based in Melbourne. Best known for his large-scale murals, Alex is entirely self-taught with a background in street art that brings a fresh perspective to formal realism painting. He began showing with Arch Enemy Arts in 2021, and STILL DOWN UNDER is his debut solo exhibition with the gallery.

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STILL DOWN UNDER will be on view from August 2nd - September 1st, 2024
Sold works will begin to ship the week starting September 8th unless other rush arrangements have been made.

Payment plan options are available on most works.

All items marked with a red dot have been sold. 

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