Cited by Oli Epp as one of his masters, Alexander Guy is on the border between still life and pop art. He takes subjects that are not well represented in the art world and sublimates them with an invigorating realism, using colors that are sometimes garish, sometimes dull. With his brush, he shakes up values. He underlines the banality of our life and our desires, while transforming an object without noble reputation into a work of art.
Alexander Guy’s references are divided between pop art and late renaissance paintings. On the one hand, we have the beauty of line and attention to detail of a painter like Raphael – cited as a big influence for Guy – and on the other hand, this willingness to show various elements of our consumer society, be it leisure objects or food. The Deluxe Dolphin Rider (1997) is one of a series of inflatable elements in Alexander Guy’s work. It is probably one of his most colorful works. One could almost imagine a photo or NFT put into the paint, so striking is the 3D effect and precision of the line.
