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My name is Alexi K. I am a contemporary artist, based in Birmingham, in the UK. My art is all about abstracting the everyday and speculating the future: architecture, people, diagrams, data, and bright colours. I'm inspired by Cubism, Futurism, Bauhaus and Constructivism. I love straight lines. Enjoy!

Above: ( Variations of ) The Alexi K SUPERHIGHWAY CHAIR, courtesy of Valley Forge Fabrics.

''ABSTRACTING THE EVERYDAY''

DIGITAL STRUCTURES #1

Emulating my postcard art in the digital realm has an unforeseen side-effect: It is actually very difficult to look at. Still, there are properties here that can be put to good use in future art. 

Below: Structures 01, 2D Digital Line Drawing, Detail.

Below: Structures 01, 2D Digital Line Drawing, Full.

Below: Detail.

I, VOYAGER

ASTYANAX ( a 2013 painting I named after a character from The Odyssey, which I was listening to on my iPod at the time ), has flown back from Soho, NYC, and is now residing in London.

I love the mix of cold blues and greys, and cadmium red. I must progress this style further.

Acrylic on Canvas, 101cm x 76cm.

SOUND AND VISION: GETTING INSPIRED

If you've seen my Twitter feed, you'll probably notice that I spend more time talking about music than I do about my own art. That's because, like a lot of creatives who work in a solitary environment, music is part of what inspires us and therefore somehow finds its way into what we actually produce.

A lot of abstract art is musical, and if you do abstraction for long enough, you might start to experience some form of synaesthesia, where a sound will trigger a sensation, and prompt you to use a certain colour or brush stroke. Kandinsky was a good example of a 'musical' painter, an artist who translates something intangible into imagery.

So of course, visiting a niche vinyl emporium, you get the best of both worlds. Effectively its an exhibition that's carefully curated; the cover art plus the music conveys the tastes and sensibilities of the owner. These non-generic stores are a very rare delight, and if you are a music enthusiast and have one in your town you should not only be a patron, you should let other people know about them - because they keep your town's musical heritage and culture alive.

Thanks to Nathan at Birmingham's Milque & Muhle.

ABSTRACT DIGITAL

My colleague, fashion designer Antone Douglas, is curating an art and design show called CONCEPT ROOM, at the Custard Factory in Digbeth this weekend ( opens 12pm Friday until 8pm Saturday, 16 - 17 Oct ). I will be debuting my sneakers, and perhaps some digital translations of my abstract paintings, such as the example below.

STREET VIEW

Below: Digital drawing ( based on postcard illustration ) blue variant.

Urban environments, architecture, and modern living, are big themes in my work at the moment. 

Below: Abstract work in progress, acrylic on canvas, 50cm x 50cm, May 2015

Below: Abstract work in progress, acrylic on canvas, 76cm x 101cm May 2015

Below: Using scalpel skills to help the guys at Urban Synthesis with a model.

Below: Architects Adam and Jay assemble the model.

Below: This is my own attempt at designing a city, out of insulating polystyrene blocks. These shapes look great next to the Custard Factory building.

The team are close to finishing the model, which is a proposal for a large-scale project for the Chinese government.

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RELATED ALEXI K ARTICLES

Damiano Verdiani & Mauro Pellegrini: Italian earthquake architecture

Sebastian Lee, Dubai architectural photographer

Justin Palmer: Housing in Portland Oregon - data as art

ALL THAT JAZZ

As you will see, further down this page, I'm currently experimenting with a particular abstract drawing style based around a grid. Nothing is planned, with the exception of the grid itself. Therefore, it's easy for things to go wrong...or maybe too right. Here is a good example of a piece that looks a bit too neat for its own good. I really wasn't that impressed when I did it...but actually I think it looks great now, and reminiscent of a funky 60s jazz album cover.

Untitled Abstract, ink on watercolour postcard, May 2015

Pen: Rotring isograph .35

LAST CHANCE TO SEE!

'Woman Disrobing' is currently available to see at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Sunday 15th February. There will be an update on this picture, and some new pieces in this style, soon.

Woman Disrobing, Pen & Ink on watercolour paper, by Alexi K

WAR & PEACE

...Is what this blasted painting should be called. Anyway, to try and think myself into solving the problem ( ie. finishing it ), I've started to record video diaries to crystallize my thoughts. 

The footage you see here is slightly before the photograph of the same piece that I posted a couple of days ago ( which you'll see if you continue scrolling ). Eventually, the vid diaries will catch up. They're normally for my personal records, but in this case, it's a nice supplement to the usual scribblings in this blog.

They'll help to explain the thought-processes that go into creating one of my abstracts.

CREDIT SWIZZ

I've just come to realise that my art - especially the drawings - is posted all over the place on the internet - sometimes not by me. If you've featured me, and credited my name, thank you, I really appreciate the support. X

If you've featured me, but didn't credit the art, please make the effort, it's only polite. ;)

Below: Featured in the FACEBOOK art group ART DREAMS, 700 likes and counting - and they don't even know who did the art! ( Needless to say, it was before I started to trademark everything ).

Update Oct 2014: This piece is to be featured in the West Midlands Open exhibition, at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, in November. Details soon.