Alexa Valenzuela

The ideas for my work come from my subconscious at unpredictable times and are influenced by my personal struggles. I explore my issues dealing with severe anxiety, eating disorders, sensory issues, relationships that have impacted my life. I work across painting, mixed media, and sculpture, frequently using human hands as a central subject to tell my stories.

Every piece is different; some canvases are left alone while others get ripped from their wooden frame. I am drawn to destroying canvases, taking apart something that is meant to function as it is and transforming it into something else. Material exploration is notable in my art practice, as I experiment with the differences between materials and how they interact with one another. Using hands as my subject, I combine semi-realism and organic forms. Hands are fluid, moving parts of the human body, capable of communicating complex feelings with small gestures.

I am compelled by the notion that every piece I make does not need to have a precise meaning, and while some of my artwork is symbolic and clear, other pieces come from a mysterious and unknowable place.