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Alex Israel

ALEX ISRAEL

Fins Gagosian 12 May–9 September 2023 Rome
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Press Release

Gagosian is thrilled to announce Fins, the upcoming exhibition of new works by contemporary artist Alex Israel. The exhibition will feature a collection of giant, plastic, coloured surfboard Fin sculptures that will be on display starting May 12th at Gagosian Rome. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Israel is known for his exploration of the visual culture of Los Angeles, and this exhibition continues this exploration with an exciting new approach. These brightly coloured plastic surfboard Fin sculptures have been crafted with meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a collection of works that are both playful and strikingly beautiful. They exist in dialogue with Light and Space and Finish Fetish artworks that developed in Los Angeles in the 1960s.

By transforming the familiar surfboard fin into a work of art, Israel invites the viewer to engage with the culture of surfing in a new and unexpected way. The exhibition will showcase a variety of surfboard fin sculptures, each with its own unique shape, size, and colour scheme. Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to explore these works and to discover the inspiration behind each one.

‘We are delighted to present this exciting new body of work by Alex Israel,’ said a spokesperson for Gagosian. ‘His Fin sculptures engage with historical precedents and offer a playful and inventive exploration of Southern California’s surf culture. We are thrilled to share them with our visitors.’

In addition to the ’Fins, the exhibition will feature additional works including cut-out works on paper and study-sized Self-Portraits, all thematically related to Israel’s new sculptures.

The exhibition will be on display from May 12th to July 28th, 2023, at Gagosian Rome. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

For more information about the exhibition, please visit the Gagosian website or contact the gallery directly.

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About the Artist

Based in Los Angeles, Alex Israel engages with the particular culture of the local film and media industries. Mining the ‘food chain’ of show business, he interrogates and confounds the fine line between ‘talent’ and ‘raw material’ while reframing and re-presenting manufactured items whose formal and auratic properties are often overlooked. For Israel, the American Dream, as embodied by the Los Angeles mythos, remains affecting and potent. Channelling celebrity culture as well as the slick appearance and aspirations of the entertainment capital, Israel approaches his hometown with an uncanny coupling of local familiarity and anthropological curiosity. His work alludes to both California cool and calculated brand creation, embracing clichés and styles that exude the hygienic optimism endemic to the local scene.

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Also Exhibiting

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Alex Israel
ALEX ISRAEL Upside Down Gagosian 12 June–5 September 2026 Davies Street, London
About the Gallery
Gagosian is a global network of art galleries specialising in modern and contemporary art with eighteen exhibition spaces worldwide.
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Address
Via Francesco Crispi 16
Rome
Italy
(1)
Rome Via Francesco Crispi 16
Gagosian contemporary art gallery in Rome Italy
Gagosian
Via Francesco Crispi 16, Rome, Italy
+39 064 208 6498
http://gagosian.com
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