Alex Black
Bio
Alex Black is a fashion photographer and director based in New York City. Her work is characterized by a fascination with the frame's ability to capture a fragmented perspective of the world. Drawing inspiration from the visual language of abstract art, Black creates representations that exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world, resulting in a tension between abstraction and figuration. Fashion is used as a tool to achieve specific effects, with shapes, colors, and forms often simplified or schematized.
Black's work is distinguished by its object-based approach, which reintegrates the tactility of her subject matter or the image-making process as a key element of the work. Her photographs and films are characterized by a tactile quality that invites the viewer to engage with the work in a physical way. Through her use of texture, materiality, and composition, Black creates immersive experiences that challenge our perceptions of fashion photography.
Alex Black's unique approach to fashion photography and filmmaking has earned her a reputation as one of the most exciting artists working today. Her work is at once playful and sophisticated, pushing the limits of what is possible with the medium. By drawing on the language of abstract art and reintegrating the tactile qualities of the image-making process, Black creates work that is both intellectually stimulating and visually stunning.
Statement
“These works were made using a flatbed scanner to explore concepts of Cubism in photography. The technology of a flatbed scanner functions like a camera by recording information line by line. This slow-moving photography process allows interaction with image capturing in real time. Scanned objects can be photographed in different fragments of time and space breaking down personal perception of the reality tied to first person sight. The three-dimensionality of the subject is flattened into basic shapes emphasizing the flatness of the photographic object."