ALEXANDER CHEN'S BIOGRAPHY

Alexander Chen is a well-known artist throughout the world and paints in a style he refers to as "hyper-realism." He journeys across the globe, stopping at significant historical and cultural sites and drawing his audience into the thrilling environments he captures in his paintings. His paintings have drawn inspiration from a variety of places, including the Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China, the London Bridge, the streets of Paris, and Times Square in New York. Chen is appreciative that he was able to live and witness a wide variety of cultures.

Personal History

Chen, who was born in 1952 in the sweltering city of Guangzhou, China, first fell in love with art when he was four years old and was creating a series of drawings. Throughout the turbulent changes in his life, he never stopped nurturing his talent and vision. After reading "Around the World in 80 Days" when he was sixteen, Chen became desperate to go on a trip. Chen traveled as far as he could on foot and by bicycle, taking pictures of his surroundings. When Chen moved to the country at the age of 16, he became a farmer and fell in love with the land, admiring its beauty.

By the time he was 26, Alexander began studying at various art schools and colleges in China, including the Arts and Crafts School at Guang Dong and the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Chen not only improved his artistic abilities but also got to know Su, a fellow student, and eventually married her. They have one son named Brandon.

Chen gained recognition as a promising young artist during the 1980s as he traveled throughout China. The National Art Exhibitions of China chose his paintings for display, and provincial and national art museums collected them.

Alexander Chen relocated to San Francisco with his family in the late 1980s. After relocating to California, Chen experienced his first snowfall at the age of 40 while standing in the middle of Central Park, given his upbringing in an extremely warm climate. His art was greatly impacted by this experience moving forward.

Since then, he has created a series titled “Alexander’s World,” based on modern life in his beloved adopted country, the United States. The exciting cityscapes of life in New York, New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago have become very popular, as have his heart-rending tributes to American landmarks and icons such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Park, the Statue of Liberty, and Times Square. Each painting can take up to three months to complete, becoming a part of his “collectible memories"—the w way Chen gives back to his “adopted land” of America.

Style and Influences

Going further than being memories, Chen wants his paintings to document the world we live in today, attempting to show a hand-made rendition of our lives for the future. When Chen paints, he uses "hyperrealism,” documenting every person, window, stoplight, and advertisement he sees in front of him. As preparation for his work, Chen will take hundreds of photos. He recalls that, in his studio, he has more than ten hard drives to back up his photography. Inspired by the artists of the Song Dynasty and the way they could capture 1,000 people in each painting, Chen can take up to three months to unearth so much detail in each of his works. His paintings are so detailed that he’s only completed around 600 original acrylic or oil paintings in his time as an artist—a minuscule number in comparison to many of his contemporaries.

Alexander has traveled to over 50 countries researching material for his paintings, including Europe, the Mideast, and Southeast Asia, in search of new locations to add to his inspired collection of artwork. He has captured scenes from daily life in England, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Germany, China, and Thailand. In his paintings, Alexander portrays an exotic yet playful side of life in every location he visits.

When asked if he has a favorite location to paint, Chen describes a mixture of love for his hometown in China and his new home in San Francisco. He also enjoys traveling to Mykonos and the Greek islands, examining the classical buildings and beautiful coastlines.

Since Chen has matured, he’s begun to focus less on his “hyperrealism” details that feature locations like Times Square and more on the grand landscapes of the world. While equally magnificent, settings like the Grand Canyon contain fewer details than the cityscapes of Las Vegas and London, giving his eyes a rest.

While Chen spends more than 10 hours each day in his studio, he listens to ancient Chinese music, listens to his television (“not watches,” he says), and has recently begun to experiment with new media, such as etching with a diamond pen.

Alexander is an official artist for the U.S. Olympic Team, as well. He created originals for both the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.  He has the distinguished honor of being the only Olympic artist sanctioned by both the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Beijing Olympic Committee.

From his home in California, Chen enjoys the beauty and opportunity provided to him as an American. Chen is honored that people of all ages and backgrounds collect his artwork, regardless of medium—his painting, graphic work, or something as simple as a puzzle. Alexander states, “It is the same ocean and sky that connects me with my homeland of China and my adopted land of America.  I love both places, and that is reflected in my artwork.”

Chen’s works of art have been collected or licensed by companies including Toshiba Electric, Northwest Airlines, UNICEF, and various art trade magazines. Alexander Chen has received worldwide recognition for his colorful and exciting works of art as his popularity in the United States, Asia, and Europe continues to grow.

"I have a responsibility for myself. I want to record humankind's history and civilization."
  

Alexander Chen's art is an exploration of the world's beauty, culture, and diversity. Through his "hyper-realist" lens, he invites us to witness the world with new eyes and appreciate the nuances that make each place unique. Immerse yourself in the captivating artistry of Alexander Chen, and let his works transport you to a world of wonder and imagination.

View Alexander Chen's art at Tom Binder Fine Arts. Please check his collection.