Wednesday 14 January 2009

b i o g r a p h y.

Alex Curtis is an artist based in Cambridge whose illustrations are built on contradicting elements of subject and colour. The pastel tones that she uses contrast with the often dark and surreal themes of her work. Humans and animals are often dismembered, deformed and disproportioned, with exaggerated facial features and no eyes. She has a fascination with cats and facial hair.

After graduating in 2005 from the London College of Fashion with a degree in ‘Make Up for the Performing Arts’, and utilising skills gained during her foundation year at St. Martins school of Art, where she specialised in Fine Art, Alex set up her design company ‘Thr33designs’. She initially began by illustrating t-shirts, posters and records for friend’s bands in 2005, and it wasn’t long before her eye-catching and unique style caught the attention of bands all across the UK and Europe.

In 2008 her artwork for the 'Gallery' 7 inch single by a band called Tellison was chosen to be exhibited at a retrospective exhibition at London Univeristy of the Arts celebrating 20 years of record sleeve design. Perhaps the most well known music release she has worked on was a collaboration with artist Dan Mumford on the Gallows album 'Orchestra of Wolves', which was released by Warner Brothers in 2007. Respected website Punktastic.com said '"the albums artwork is exceptional. make no mistake, the art alone is like nothing ive seen in the UK for the last few years.."

Alex's artwork attracted the attention of Rock Sound music magazine, a national monthly publication which features a double page article on artists from all around the world who work within the music industry. She has also given several talks and interviews, including an address to the Camberwell College of Art about her experiences of working freelance.

Since then she has gone on to manage a gallery space in Cambridge called The Frontroom recently featured in Creative Review, and is working on starting up a company called 'Poster Roast' whereby UK poster artists are given a platform to exhibit. Alex recently had a stall at the ever growing Flatstock Europe.