alex podesta

In his work, Alex Podesta recontextualizes the fantasies and misconceptions of childhood through the filters of adulthood and experience. According to Podesta, this is done “in an attempt to plumb the depths of the creative and comprehensive naiveté of youth; to illustrate, in engaging and seriocomic ways, the role of fantasy, ‘othering’ and conflict in nascent self-awareness.” His works often place their central character in a reverie of industriousness, along with a doppelganger or other machinations of his imagination. His subjects appear to grapple with existential perplexities and metaphysical impossibilities, locked in a never-ending battle with “misapplication, miscomprehension, and misunderstanding.”

Born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia, Podesta lives and maintains his studio in New Orleans. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, as well as being featured in numerous print and online media outlets such as ARTnews, Oxford American, HiFructose, Sculpture Magazine, and The Washington Post.

Artist Member Since 2017

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University & University of New Orleans

Master of Fine Arts, University of New Orleans

CURRENT EXHIBITION

AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 27

TETHERING FOG

ARTIST STATEMENT

The cogito is meant to be an inescapable and fundamental base on which all subsequent Cartesian reasoning and inquiry are built. But if thinking becomes impeded, or even rendered impossible, then where does that leave being-ness?

“Non cogito ergo non sum” isn’t accurate, but also isn’t entirely inaccurate either?

Perhaps something closer to

“I think I used to think?

So maybe I still am?

A little?”

Tethering Fog is a collection of sculptural sketches and follies examining this cognitively dissonant state. Figures try to physically wring out their thoughts, unstuff their brains, disappear into their clothing, the walls, corners, or even vanish completely. But always clinging to something. Some… hope? Some… comfort? Some remembered place of security?