Examining the Authentic Self: Interview with Artist Alex Leav
Where does the authentic self begin and the digital self end?
This is a question that artist Alex Leav tackles in her works, primarily producing painted abstract pieces. Leav (b. 1997, New York) is a visual artist who lives and works in New York City. She received a BA in History from the University of Michigan (2019) and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts (2022). I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex about her journey as an artist, including thoughts about her artistic practice, advice for other emerging artists, and valuable moments she has experienced in her career thus far.
1. How did you first get started in your career as an artist? Did anyone or anything in particular inspire you? Were there any challenges you faced?
I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family of artists and started taking drawing and painting classes when I was little. It was always a hobby. I first realized I wanted a career as an artist, though, when I spent a semester studying art history in Europe during my undergrad at the University of Michigan. I was lucky enough to visit museums and galleries in different cities. I learned so much by looking and became inspired to give it a serious go on my own. When I got back to New York, I applied to an MFA program at the School of Visual Arts. I started in the program about a year later.
Of course there have been challenges! Literally countless. Every new painting is a challenge. Anything that’s easy is just kidding yourself.
2. Where do you look for inspiration? Could you tell me a little more about your artistic practice?
As cheesy as it sounds, I don’t think I necessarily “look” for inspiration, I find it at unexpected times. Inspiration can come from a photo I scroll past on my Instagram feed, a text I receive from a friend, a line from a book I’m reading, a really great exhibition I see (luckily, those are easy to find in New York). If I’m stuck, though, I’ll crack open the books I have on my favorite artists and sift through them. de Kooning, Mitchell, Krasner, Gorky, Picasso. They never fail to get some ideas flowing.
In terms of my own practice, I’m interested in female representation in the digital age. Working primarily with paint and abstraction, I aim to explore questions regarding “the individual”: Where does the authentic self begin and the digital self end? How does social media dictate “the individual” through its necessitation of self-branding, promoting, and selling? And, in a larger sense, is it possible for “the individual” to exist in its purest form, completely devoid of surrounding influence?
3. What advice would you have for an artist who is just beginning their career?
I’m not sure it’s fair for me to answer this question as I feel like I’m just beginning my career! However, when it comes down to it, I’d like to believe that the most important aspect of any artist’s career is their work. So, to an artist just beginning, I’d say: spend as much time as you can developing the work. In the studio, nothing is off limits. Experiment with different techniques and materials. Go crazy, see what happens. One of my favorite parts of creating is surprising myself.
A more specific, concrete piece of advice would be to study art history, whether you apply to art school or check out some textbooks from the library on your own. It’s important and valuable to look at what has already been done - and to analyze the why’s and how’s - in order to contextualize your own ideas.
4. In a similar manner, do you have any advice for young or first-time art collectors or buyers?
I’m not a collector (hopefully one day I can be, haha), but I think it’s important to feel something when looking at art. I would collect pieces that stir something up in you, that you can engage with, that you’re inspired or challenged by. If you trust your instincts and your taste and follow what resonates with you, you can’t go wrong.
5. What aspects of the art industry do you hope to see change or grow in the coming years?
The art world can feel inaccessible and intimidating at times. For example, galleries can use unnecessarily complex language (“art speak”) in press releases or exhibition texts, deterring people who aren’t “in the arts.” It’d be nice if we were all a bit more transparent and direct so as to engage with a broader, more diverse audience.
7. What have been some of the most rewarding experiences during your career as an artist?
Last August, soon after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, I co-curated a group exhibition in support of Planned Parenthood with one of my best friends (and fellow artist), Dylan Rose Rheingold. Work by 33 New York-based artists was exhibited at New Collectors, a gallery on the Lower East Side, with proceeds from all sales going directly to the organization’s efforts to protect reproductive rights. Spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and poetry, the work chosen advocated for the right to self-autonomy and emphasized the importance of personal choice. It was really special and rewarding to see art’s capability for community building and social change.
To stay connected with Alex, please visit her Instagram. To view her works for yourself, please visit her website!
