Alex Couwenberg
Over that last decade, Alex Couwenberg has developed a signature style of painting where he builds upon layers of paint while also exposing his under painting. His process, an additive and reductive series of moves and passes, creates multilayered environments that are deep and sensual. His technique is partly a reflection on the artist’s relationship with his personal and cultural history as well as an intention to find and create a middle ground between expressionism and hardedge abstraction.
Couwenberg’s newest paintings continue to explore “process” and the “moment” through tightly controlled compositions of paint and mark making, creating images that are inspired by the elements indigenous to his surroundings. Couwenberg’s work gives a nod and pays homage to the historical styles of the visual language used by hard-edge, geometric abstractionist, the Finish Fetish and Light and Space artists who were influential in shaping the aesthetic of Los Angeles and Southern California art during the 1950’s to the 1970’s. His paintings reference and suggest influences from custom car culture, surfing, skateboarding, and music, at the same time glossed over with the sensibility of mid-century modernist design. However, not intending to replicate, Couwenberg uses Eames-era design and hard edge geometric abstraction as points of departure for creating his paintings. He harnesses these ideas into harmonious results: asymmetric compositions of color with beautiful surfaces that can be dynamic or quiet and elegant, presenting a kind of contemplative soliloquy reflecting the visual landscape of the world around him.
Recent Artwork
Series
Video Interviews
Artist Information
Artist Website: alexcouwenberg.com
Born and raised in Southern California, painter Alex Couwenberg creates images that are inspired by the elements integral to his surroundings. From Los Angeles, Couwenberg’s work references and suggests the aesthetic associated with mid-century modernism, car culture, skateboards, and surfboards. Not to leave out, the paintings pay homage to the historical styles of post-war art making associated with Los Angeles and Southern California throughout the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Couwenberg’s paintings give a nod towards the Hard-edge abstractionists, the finish fetish, and the light and space artists. Not content to replicate, he uses the sensibility of Eames-era design and hard-edge geometric abstraction as points of departure for creating paintings. His process, an additive and reductive series of moves and passes, creates multilayered environments that are deep and sensual. He harnesses these ideas into harmonious results, reflecting the visual landscape of his environment.
A graduate from the Art Center College of Design and The Claremont Graduate School, Couwenberg worked under the guidance of Karl Benjamin, one of the leading figures in the Southern California based school of Hard-edge geometric abstraction. Benjamin was instrumental in the development of his painting style, process, and philosophy. A Southern California native, Couwenberg naturally embraced this sensibility and applied it to his art making practices. By instilling the discipline and work ethic associated with these philosophies into his process, the paintings began to mature and develop a visual voice. The vocabulary references the dedication toward craft, process, and the progression of concepts and techniques.
Couwenberg’s paintings have been shown in several solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. His work can be found in numerous public, private, corporate, and museum collections around the world. Recent museum acquisitions include the The Frederick Weisman Arts Foundation in LA, the Long Beach Museum of Art, Lancaster Museum of Art and History, Laguna Art Museum, Crocker Museum of Art, and the Daum Museum in Missouri. In 2007 Couwenberg was awarded the prestigious Joan Mitchell Foundation Award for his achievements in painting and was recently featured as the subject of Los Angeles based film maker Eric Minh Swenson, which focuses on the artists life and studio practices.
Alex Couwenberg
Residence: Los Angeles, California
B. 1967
Education
1997 MFA, Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, CA
1995 BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023 Intersection, with Stefan Duerst, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2023 Artfully Spaced Gallery, Title TBD, with Cara Barer, Los Angeles, CA
2022 “Superglide”, William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2020 Uban Geometry, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018 Geometric Generation, with Curtist Cutshaw, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2018 Chevrons, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018 Collaboration, with Steve Diet Geodde, Coagula Curatorial, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Long Play, SCAPE Gallery, Corona del Mar, CA
2017 In Pono, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2016 “Left at 69’s”, Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY
2016 “Geometrie de Luce”, Artesilva, Mila, Italy
2016 “what we do is secret”, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2016 New Paintings, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, Idaho
2016 New Paintings, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014 California, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2014 Inform / form, Launch gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013 Swell, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2013 Cross Current, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2012 Paintings, Jennifer Kostuik, Vancouver, BC
2012 Alex Couwenberg and Karl Benjamin:
Influence, Divergence, & the Evolution of an Idea, William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Trajectory, David Richard Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2011 New Paintings, William Turner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2011 New Paintings, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2011 New Paintings, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011 Over the Years, Metro Gallery, Pomona, CA
2010 New Paintings, Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY
2009 A Bit Left of All Right, William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Singles, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID
2009 Arcade, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2009 Morphic Traces, San Luis Obispo Art Center, San Luis Obispo, CA
2009 Waimea, Royale Projects, Indian Wells, CA
2008 Working Space, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2008 Bypassing Referents, Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY
2007 Cosmetically, Aesthetically, Unregrettably, d.e.n. Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2007 New Paintings, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID
2007 New Paintings, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2006 New Paintings, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2006 Black Labeled, Dolby Chadwick Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2006 Alex Couwenberg: a ten year evolution, University Gallery, CSUS, Turlock, CA
2005 de Stad, Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY
2005 Metropolitan, 455 Market Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 tussenruimte, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Primo, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003 Paintings, Gensler, San Francisco, CA
2003 Alexander Couwenberg; a seven year survey, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2002 New Paintings, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2001 New Paintings, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2021 Cross Currents, William Turner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2018 Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2018 SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA
2016 20 Years Kostuik Gallery, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2016 Art Changes Things, Donkey Mill Art Center, Holualoa, HI
2016 New Masters Vs. Modern Masters, Heitsch Galerie, Munich, Germany
2016 Forethought, Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY
2016 Diosyncratic Fields, East Hawaii Cultural Center, Hilo, HI
2015 Artists of the Film MANA, Villa di Donato, Napoli, IT
2015 LA / SF, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2015 New Abstraction, Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY
2014 Shift – five decades of Contemporary California Painting, Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA
2014 Celebrating The Spirit of Summer, Lancaster MOAH, Lancaster, CA
2014 LA Abstract, Red Pipe Gallery, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA
2013 Mas Attack 2, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
2013 Mama, Gallery MELD, Kailua-Kona, HI
2011 The Gleam in the Young Bastards Eye, William Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Chain Letter, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2011 Tel-Art-Phone, Beacon Art Center, Los Angeles, CA
2011 A Generous Spirit, Robert and Francis Fullerton Museum of Art, CSUSB, CA
2010 Karl Benjamin: Under the Influence, Royal Projects, Indiana Wells, CA
2010 Over Paper, Bruno Davis Gallery, St. Louie, MO
2010 Line, Curve, Form, David Richards Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2010 Claremont Modernism, OBJCT Gallery, Claremont, CA
2010 WHAT, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009 Enduring Legacy, Claremont Museum of Art, Claremont, CA
2009 West/East, Royale Projects, Indian Wells, CA
2009 Rant, Design Loves Art, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA
2009 Art Auction, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2009 Los Angeles Currents, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2009 Summer Group Show, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2009 ONA 2X2, Cypress College Art Gallery, Cypress, CA
2008 Liquid Light, Museum of Design Art and Architecture, Culver City, CA
2008 Between the Lines, William Turner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2008 15 Years, 15 Artists, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2008 Art Auction, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2008 The Finish Fetish, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
2008 Keeping It Straight, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2008 Works on Paper, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID
2007 West Coast Abstraction, Peter Blake Galley, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 Liquid Light, dba256 Gallery, Pomona, CA
2007 Off the Grid, William Turner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2007 Paintings Edge, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2007 Inland Emperors, dba256 Gallery, Pomona, CA
2007 Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA
2007 Inaugural Exhibition, Gilman Contemporary, Ketchum, ID
2007 Summer Group Show, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 Art Auction 12, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
2007 Venice Art Walk, Venice, CA
2007 Decade, Dolby Chadwick Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2007 Out of Line, Cal State Stanislaus, University Gallery, Turlock, CA
2007 Grey Scale, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 Art Auction = Stimulus, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2007 Let There Be Light, Phantom Galleries, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Aligning With Abstract Los Angeles, d.e.n. Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2006 Landscape Perspectives, Art + Industry, Palm Springs, CA
2006 Summer Abstraction, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2006 Monotype, d.e.n. Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2006 2nd Gwang Hwa Moon International Arts Festival, Sejong Center, Seoul, Korea
2006 Flow: Fine Lines on Water, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2006 Flow: Fine Lines on Water, Lisa Coscino Gallery, Pacific Grove, CA
2006 Recent Acquisitions, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2006 Border Crossing, Sopa Fine Arts, British Columbia, Canada
2006 Out of Line, Parks Exhibition Center, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA
2005 Inaugural Exhibition, Sopa Fine Arts, British Columbia, Canada
2005 A Common Thread, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA
2005 Out of Line, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2005 Out of Line, Brandstater Gallery, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
2005 Abstract Los Angeles, Louisiana Tech University Galleries, Ruston, LA
2005 Art Auction 11, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
2005 Theories: LA Paint, Post, Los Angeles, CA
2005 Venice Art Walk, Venice, CA
2005 Monothon, 2005, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2004 Luster, Gensler, San Francisco, CA
2004 Abstract Work from the Permanent Collection, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
2004 Continental Divide: LA/NYC, Planet Thailand, Brooklyn, NY
2004 Abstract Los Angeles, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA
2004 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003 No Chaser; Straight Ahead Abstract Painting, Post, Los Angeles, CA
2003 Group Show, Dolby/Chadwick Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2003 Black and White, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2003 New Paintings, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA Venice Art Walk, Venice, CA
2003 Art Auction 10, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
2002 California Dream, Il Museo I Magli di Sarezzo, Brescia, Italy
2002 Summer Group Show,Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2002 Sam Maloof and Friends, dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA
2001 New American Paintings Group Show, OSP Gallery/Open Studio Press, Boston, MA
2001 Homage: Roland Reiss, Claremont Graduate School alumni show, dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA 2001Art Auction 9, Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
2001 Monothon, 2001, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA S
2001 Sequence, Mt. San Antonio College Art Gallery, Walnut, CA
2000 Art 2000: Applauding Revolutionary Talent, Millard Sheets Gallery, Pomona, CA
Awards
2007 Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant
Selected Museum Collections
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA
Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO
Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
Georgia Tech University, Atlanta, GA
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
Lancaster Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
Nsuhi-Umeda Art Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
Pitzer College Museum Collection, Claremont, CA Pomona College Museum of Art, Claremont, CA
Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
Robert and Francis Fullerton Museum of Art, California State University San Bernadino, CA
University of La Verne, La Verne, CA
Bibliography
2018 The Thought Provokers, Voyage LA, December, 2018
2018 Brewer, Gary, “The Language of Style”, Art and Cake, September, 2018
2018 Osberg, Annabel, “Alex Couwenberg and Steve Diet Goedde”, Artillery, February, 2018
2017 Goldner, Liz, “Alex Couwenberg at SCAPE”, Art and Cake, November, 2017
2017 Fernandez, Jennifer, “Warm Modernism”, Architectural Digest, April, 2017
2016 Nys Dambrot Shana, “In the Next Dimension”, 2016
2016 Melrod, George, “Left At 69’s” @ Lyones Weir Gallery, review, Art LTD. November, 2016
2015 Daichendt, Jim, Byways, catalogue essay, March, 2015
2014 Nys Dambrot, Shana, Whitehot Magazine, August 2014
2014 Enholm, Molly, ArtScene, May 2014
2013 Roth, David, “Alex Couwenberg at Andrea Schwartz, “Square Cylinder”, December 2013
2013 Senn, David, “Crosscurrents”. Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, 2013
2013 Lucas-Zenk, Carolyn, West Hawaii Today, July 2013
2012 Frank, Peter, Huffington Post, January 2012
2012 Moret, A., Art Ltd, March 2012
2012 Frank, Peter, Fabrik, January 2012
2012 Artweek LA., January 2012
2011 Carasso, Roberta, Coast Magazine, “Colors, Shapes, and Light, October 2011
2011 Walsh, Daniella, Riviera Magazine, Spring 2011
2011 Davies, Stacy, “OC Weekly”, October 2011
2011 Walters, Daniela, Beverly Hills Lifestyle”, Creating Balance”, Spring 2011
2011 Roth, David, Square Cylinder, February 2011
2011 Yood, James, Critic, Writer, Art Institute of Chicago, Catalogue Essay, 2011
2011 California Home and Design, “Left Coast Looks”, February 2011
2010 Dambrot, Shana Nys, Flavorpill New York, “Alex Couwenberg, New Paintings,” March 2010 Zimmermann, Mark, Art: Theories and Provocations, March 2010
2010 Artdaily.org March 2010
2009 Biller, Steven, Palm Springs Life, “Game On: The Arcade Paintings”, November 2009
2009 Nichols, Kimberly, Desert Magazine, “Art for Now”, November 2009
2009 Biller, Steven, Palm Springs Life, November 2009
2009 Melrod, George, ART ltd, “Under the Radar” May 2009
2009 Idaho Mountain Express, March 4, 2009
2009 Biller, Steven, Palm Springs Life, February 2009
2009 Frank, Peter, THE Magazine Los Angeles, February 2009
2009 Meyers, Holly, Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2009
2008 Art & Culture, Critic’s Pick, Winter/Spring 2008
2008 Harris, Freddie, Sun Valley Magazine, “Gallery Openings,” Winter 2008
2008 California Home and Design, “Art and Antiques,” September 2008
2008 Gay, Malcolm, Riverfront Times, “St. Louis Art Capsules,” May 20, 2008
2008 Grossman, Emily, Art and Living, “The Straight Take”, March 20, 2008
2008 The New York Sun, “Brother Culture” January 25, 2008
2008 Biller, Steven, Palm Springs Life, “Critics Pick,” January, 2008
2008 Davies, Stacy, IE Weekly, “Everything Old Is New Again,” January 17, 2008
2007 Myers, Holly, Los Angeles Times, “Like 50’s lounge music, remixed,” August 17, 2007
2007 Gleason, Mat, ArtScene, July/August 2007 Artdaily.org, July 2007
2007 Tibbitz, Ashley, Flavorpill, July 17-23, 2007
2007 ART ltd., “Pulse,” July 2007
2007 Bossick, Karen, Wood River Journal, “Buzzer, Gilman Contemporary”, August 1, 2007
2007 Carasso, Roberta, Coast Magazine, September, 2007
2007 Frank, Peter, LA Weekly, “Grids Unlocked,” Art Pick of the Week, June 6, 2007
2007 Jit Fong Chin, SqueezeOC, “Grey Matters”, January, 2007
2007 Walsh, Daniella, Orange County Register, “Shades of Gray”, January 14, 2007
2007 Carasso, Roberta, Laguna News Post, “Artwaves” January 4, 2007
2007 Walsh, Daniella, Riviera Magazine, “The Radar Art” January, 2007
2007 Rupe, Cynthia, SqueezeOC, Picks of the Week, January 4, 2007
2007 Mckenna, John Page, Palm Springs Life, Winter/Spring 2007
2006 Melrod, George, Art Ltd., “Culver City: Chelsea West?” October, 2006
2006 Cripps, Mick, Lifescapes, “Artist Profile,” September, 2006
2006 Allen, Bobbie, Coastline Pilot, “Seven Abstractionists for summer,” July 6, 2006
2005 Frank, Peter, LA Weekly, “Art Pick of the Week,” October 2005
2005 Muckenfuss, Mark, Press Enterprise, Riverside Museum Monothon Event, September, 2005
2005 Simou, Alexandra, New York Sun, January 26, 2005
2004 Kugelman, Kerry, Art Circles, fall 2004
2004 Cullum, Jerry, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Review, August 29, 2004
2004 Gilbert, Debora, Greenline, March, 2004
2004 Gleason, Mat, Artscene, February, 2004
2004 Frank, Peter, LA Weekly, “Art pick of the week,” February, 2004
2004 Novick, La Rue, Daily Bulletin, February, 2004
2003 Litz, Paige, Los Angeles Times, “Going Beneath the Surface,” October 10, 2003
2003 Moyle, Andrew, 210 Magazine, October, 2003
2002 Nelson, Harold, Director, Long Beach Museum of Art, Statement, 2002
2002 Alfred, E. Anne, Asst. Director, Riverside Museum of Art, Statement, 2002
2002 Dennison, Lisa, New American Paintings, vol. 37, 2001-02
2001 Roth, Charlene, Artweek, “Alexander Couwenberg at Ruth Bachofner Gallery,” March, 2001
2001 Frank, Peter, LA Weekly, “Art pick of the week,” January, 2001
2000 Johnstone, Mark, ART 2000: Applauding Revolutionary Talent, Millard Sheets Gallery Catalog
Visiting Artist / Lecturer
Donkey Mill Art Center, Holualoa, HI
Summer Arts, California State University Monterey, Monterey, CA
Modernism Week 2009, The Krisel House, Palm Springs, CA
Paintings Edge, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA Millard Sheets Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA
Alex Couwenberg & Stefan Duerst
Intersection, 2023 Press Release PDF Download
Alex Couwenberg & Curtis Cutshaw
Geometric Generation Press Release PDF Download
The Kostuik Gallery is excited to introduce our September Exhibition of new paintings by Alex Couwenberg and Curtis Cutshaw. Geometric Generation combines accomplished painters who express addictive and reductive paint techniques to create formal compositions of movement and textures all through highly skilled paint application unique to each artist.California based Alex Couwenberg pays homage to the historical styles of the visual language used by hard-edge, geometric abstractionist, the Finish Fetish and Light and Space artists who were influential in shaping the aesthetic of Los Angeles and Southern California art during the 1950’s to the 1970’s. His paintings reference and suggest influences from custom car culture, surfing, skateboarding, and music, at the same time glossed over with the sensibility of mid-century modernist design.
(download PDF for complete Press Release)
Artistic Intent
Over that last decade, Alex Couwenberg as developed a signature style of painting where he builds upon layers of paint while also exposing his under painting. His process, an additive and reductive series of moves and passes, creates multilayered environments that are deep and sensual. His technique is partly a reflection on the artist’s relationship with his personal and cultural history as well as an intention to find and create a middle ground between expressionism and hardedge abstraction. Couwenberg’s 2014 paintings continue to explore “process” and the “moment” through tightly controlled compositions of paint and mark making, creating images that are inspired by the elements indigenous to his surroundings. Couwenberg’s work gives a nod and pays homage to the historical styles of the visual language used by hard-edge, geometric abstractionist, the Finish Fetish and Light and Space artists who were influential in shaping the aesthetic of Los Angeles and Southern California art during the 1950’s to the 1970’s. His paintings reference and suggest influences from custom car culture, surfing, skateboarding, and music, at the same time glossed over with the sensibility of mid-century modernist design. However, not intending to replicate, Couwenberg uses Eames-era design and hard edge geometric abstraction as points of departure for creating his paintings. He harnesses these ideas into harmonious results: asymmetric compositions of color with beautiful surfaces that can be dynamic or quiet and elegant, presenting a kind of contemplative soliloquy reflecting the visual landscape of the world around him.
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