Alex Couwenberg

Alex Couwenberg's most recent work is an examination of repetitive patterning, symbolic use of shapes, and the cultural implications predominantly found in his Indonesian heritage. Best known for combining hard-edge abstraction with gestural brushwork, layering, raw edges, and textured surfaces, he brings depth and an expressionist touch to a tradition of painting known typically for its flatness. His artistic influences include the abstract classicists such as Karl Benjamin, who was Couwenberg’s mentor. Couwenberg’s thin line patterns and choice of color are inspired by surf and skateboard cultures, as well as the custom car and hot rod aesthetic elsewhere known as Finish Fetish. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from Claremont Graduate University. Couwenberg is a Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellow and his work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia; collected by several American museums including Crocker Art Museum, DAUM Museum of Contemporary Art, Laguna Art Museum, Long Beach Museum of Art, and Museum of Art & History. Couwenberg was included in the Getty's Pacific Standard Time initiative highlighting the contributions of southern California art makers to the global aesthetic.