The paintings and sculptures realized by Alejandro Cardenas (b. 1977, Santiago, Chile) provide a vision of a post-human world wherein the relationship between human forms and the environment is one of unity and coexistence. Guided by his own imagination and inspired by a wide variety of influences ranging from Surrealism to Sci-Fi to magical realism, Cardenas immerses himself in the creation of surreal, post-human scenes of polished, gridded interiors populated by eerie, angular figures. Cardenas' unique approach to figuration places his signature humanoids—narrow, wire-frame silhouettes wrapped in colorful patterns of zigzagging lines—calmly reclining, sitting, or standing within minimalist architectural environments. Unlike us, these faceless humanoids appear to lack all sensory organs, yet they are not deprived of their sensorial abilities. Instead, they convey emotion through body language, resulting in a wide variety of suggested emotional expression.
Alejandro Cardenas completed his BFA at the Cooper Union School of Art in 2000. Before becoming a full time studio painter, Cardenas had a successful career as a multimedia artist, working in illustration, graphic design, and videography. For over a decade, Cardenas served as the lead textile designer and art director for the influential fashion label Proenza Schouler. He was also a founding member of Lansing-Dreiden, a New York-based transdisciplinary art collective that produced musical albums, a literary journal, and artworks. Reviews of his art and design projects have appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, AnOther Magazine, and more.
Alejandro Cardenas currently lives and works in upstate New York.
Alejandro Cardenas
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Alejandro Cardenas, The house at Los Lagos, 2020
Acrylic on canvas
122.1 x 91.6 cm
48 1/8 x 36 1/8 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, If anything could be learned, 2020
Acrylic on canvas
121.9 x 165.1 cm
48 x 65 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, The tail of If, 2020
121.9 x 91.4 cm
48 x 36 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, Atacamite Hall 2, 2020
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 81.3 cm
40 x 32 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, The doorway, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 81.3 cm
40 x 32 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, Continuous Sentry and Sea Krait, 2021
Lacquered aluminum
180 x 110 x 4 cm; 70 7/8 x 43 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
Base: 90 x 60 x 2 cm; 35 3/8 x 23 5/8 x 3/4 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, Sea Krait Gerwalk mode, 2021
Lacquered aluminum
100 x 60 x 4 cm; 39 3/8 x 23 5/8 x 1 5/8 in
Base: 30 x 50 x 2 cm; 11 3/4 x 19 3/4 x 3/4 in -
Alejandro Cardenas, The green gate, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 81.3 x 3.2 cm; 40 x 32 x 1 1/4 in (unframed)
104.1 x 83.8 x 6.4; 41 x 33 x 2 1/2 in (framed) -
Alejandro Cardenas, Deep Night, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
152.4 x 127 cm
60 x 50 inches -
Alejandro Cardenas, The Signal
Acrylic on canvas
101.6 x 81.3 cm
40 x 32 inches
Exhibitions
Selected press
- 'Almine Rech Paris Presents CALYPSO, Alejandro Cardenas’ Response to Odysseus', Widewalls, March 19, 2022 — 130.8 kB
- Pierre Aimer, "Paris, Turenne : exposition Alejandro Cardenas, "Calypso".", Sortir ici et ailleurs, February 24, 2022 — 312.4 kB
- Bill Powers, 'Alejandro Cardenas', March 2021, Purple Magazine. — 8.6 MB
- Aaron Bogart, "Alejandro Cardenas “ALEXANDRIA” Almine Rech / New York", Flash Art, March 10, 2021 — 1.2 MB
- Alexandra Zirinis, 'New Beginnings? Alejandro Cardenas at Almine Rech', FAD Magazine, March 5, 2021 — 1.0 MB
- Mariana Bettinelli, "Alexandria, and exhibition by artist Alejandro Cardenas, Trendland, February 23, 2021 — 1.2 MB
- Cristina Samper, " Discover the latest work of Alejandro Cardenas, this time at Almine Rech New York, Art of Choice, January 31, 2021 — 1.2 MB
- Alana Pockros, "Imagining the Future Amid Alejandro Cardenas’s Profound, Brooding Canvases", Hyperallergic, January 27, 2021 — 830.0 kB
- Sasha Bogojev, "Alejandro Cardenas' "Alexandria" @ Almine Rech in NYC", Jaxtapoz Magazine, January 22, 2021 — 1.5 MB