Alex Cortes

Personal Statement

Thriving through Art

Human struggles appear to have no beginning and no end, and that’s why this body of work explores the dark side of our psyche. In fact, feelings of entrapment, confusion, anxiety, and impotence are the driving force behind my work. When people look at my drawings, I want them to make up a story, draw their own conclusions, feel connected and find a little bit of their own struggle echoing on any of my particular pieces.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

2001-06 BFA Cum Laude, California State University Long Beach.

1997-01 Santa Monica College, Los Angeles California.

Exhibitions

2017 The Color of Dance, Esencia Flamenca Dance Co. Los Alamitos Ca.

2016 The Cigar Box Show, CATALYST Westminster Ca.

2016 The Color of Dance, Esencia Flamenca Dance Co. Los Alamitos Ca.

2015 The Color of Dance Esencia, Flamenca Dance Co.  Los Alamitos Ca.

2014 "Frida Kahlo exhibition", Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach Ca.

2011 Group Show, Municipal Art Gallery, Hollywood CA.

2011 Soul Sis, JAUS Gallery, Santa Monica CA.

2009 Student Exhibition, Long Beach City College, Long Beach CA.

2008 Untitled Series, Long Beach Library, Long Beach CA.

2007 Group Show, 2nd City Council Performance space and Gallery, Long Beach CA.

2006 La Virgen Group Show, Picture This Gallery, Long Beach CA.

2006 Dancing with the Dead, Group Show, Museum of Latin American Art Long Beach, CA.

2006 BFA undergraduate solo show, CSULB, Long Beach CA.

2006 BFA Group show, Gatov Gallery, CSULB, Long Beach CA.

2004 Insights' 04 Annual student exhibition University Art Museum CSULB, Long Beach CA.

2004 Drawings and Paintings, student exhibition, Gatov Gallery CSULB, Long Beach CA.

2003 BFA show, Gatov Gallery, CSULB, Long Beach CA.

2001 Mentor show, Madison Gallery, SMC, Santa Monica CA.

2000 The Lying Totem, The Hatch Gallery, Venice Beach CA.

2000 Dislocation, Ginza 9Bidou Gallery, Tokio Japan.

2000 Synopsis Julie Rico Gallery, Venica Beach CA.

2000 Annual Student Exhibition, SMC Art Gallery, Los Angeles CA.

1999  Venice Vortex, SMC Art Gallery, Los Angeles CA.

1999 Venice Vortex, Cornell University Gallery, New York.

1999 How subjective is beauty? Novel Cafe, Venice Beach CA.

1998 El Arte que nos mueve, Airport Air Spaces, San Antonio Texas.

1997 Annual student exhibition, SMC Art Galley, Los Angeles CA.

1984 El Cuerpo, Instituto Tecnologico de la Moda, México D.F.

Awards

1998 Crysler Co. Award

Work Experience

2011-2015 Volunteer Art Teaching at Bethany Christian School, Long Beach Ca.

2014-2015 Zion Delivery Services

2007 Teaching Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach CA.

2007 Illustrations Yoga World Studios.

Scholarships

2000 SMC Latino Center

2000 The Stiefel & Dock Weiler fund

1998 SMC Latino Center

1997 SMC, Art Department