Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Squier.
Hi Alexander, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up, I had the benefit of being exposed to a lot of art and I always loved it. My parents enrolled me in art classes locally, and I really took to drawing and painting. Around high school, I discovered printmaking and became completely obsessed. Inspired by my mother’s collection of massive 19th century posters, I explored lithography, screen printing, and relief printing. I majored in Studio Art in college, and while studying at the University of Rochester I worked on campus at the Hartnett Art Gallery, and also interned at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center. This was my introduction to gallery and exhibitions work. I returned to Houston after graduating, and worked for a while at Anya Tish Gallery. Anya taught me a lot about running a gallery, about writing, and also allowed me to co-curate my first exhibition, “Just Press Print”. In 2011 I moved to Boston to pursue my MFA in Printmaking and Sculpture at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. My experience there expanded the scope of my work, leading me to involve photography, sound, and video, and to experiment with research-based and site-specific projects and installations. After a series of projects in Boston, I returned to Houston in 2015 to do an installation taking over an entire derelict ranch home in the Sharpstown Area.
This public project was up for 8 months and turned the house into a quasi-archaeological museum of the surrounding area. I began teaching printmaking and drawing locally, and still teach at the Art League of Houston, Printing Museum of Houston, and the Glassell School of Art. I also pursued opportunities for curatorial work, directing the HCC Central Art Gallery and serving as Exhibitions Coordinator at BOX 13 ArtSpace. More recently, I have taken a position as Director of Programs at the Alta Arts, a new non-profit art space in the Gulfton neighborhood.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not always been a smooth or clear path. As an artist, it takes time to establish a studio, and selling work or garnering commissions is never consistent. I struggled in Boston after graduating with my MFA. The high-cost of living coupled with the competitive nature of the job market made it very difficult. At a certain point I was living off the dollar menu at Wendy’s because I could not afford groceries. I remember getting a rejection letter for an Adjunct position at a tiny college, stating that they had had over 8,000 applicants to teach a single drawing class.
That said, things have been smoother since returning to Houston. We have a very supportive community here, there are opportunities, and there is a lot of room to create your own. The main challenge here has been going through periods of having to work several part-time gigs while also trying to be a productive artist. Every artist has to figure out their own formula and rhythm.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do a lot of different kinds of work creatively. Referring specifically to my art practice, I specialize in drawing, and printmaking methods such as screen printing, relief printing, intaglio, and lithography. Certainly as a teacher, this is what I am most known for. However as an artist, I also pursue opportunities to do installations and site-based works that are more expansive and allow me to hit several possible points of engagement around the subject of the work. Some examples of this kind of project that I am proud of include “What’s to Come”, 2013, “Remnants / Visions” from 2015, and the “Houston Brick Archive” from 2019.
My work is inspired by the landscape of Houston and other cities. Visually I am attracted to the contrast and points of fluidity or tension between the man-made and natural. These moments can speak to issues within urban planning and infrastructure, design tendencies, economics and much more. Projects like those listed above allow me go beyond the observation or musings of making a drawing or a print, and to embed layers of information and questioning, honing in on these subjects and contextualizing the work within the very landscape it is speaking to.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
You can find available work or reach out about instruction or commissions through my website. I am often teaching various workshops and classes as well so follow me on Instagram for updates.
My studio is located at BOX 13 ArtSpace in Houston’s East End District. Feel free to reach out about a studio visit!
Contact Info:
- Email: studiosquier@gmail.com
- Website: www.alexandersquier.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexander.squier/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandersquierart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCABFDF1PeeyM-MpDkx7U2yQ
Image Credits
Kevin Lopez
