The Rise and Fall of Icarus, 2020
Paris Alexander
Raleigh, NC
Carved limestone, granite
6” x 16” x 92”
Photos by Kyla Willoughby
Artist Statement
I intend on making a work that will in some way express all those things that I find inexpressible, because that’s what drew me to art, saying the things I can’t seem to articulate. Art for me is a language of its own, and I strive to be poetic with these visual expressions. If I fail to make it ‘happen,’ I will destroy it and make another. It’s kinda like a fight, either I knock it out or it knocks me out, then I get up and go to the next fight.
About the Artist
Paris Alexander was born and raised in New York City where he studied art from early childhood. Since establishing himself in North Carolina, Alexander’s work has been exhibited widely in galleries, universities, and museums, with numerous public and private commissions. His work is included in the collection of Wake Med, Duke University, UNC Chapel Hill, Saks Fifth Avenue, the R.C. Kessler Collection, SAS Institute, former president Bill Clinton, Senator Bob Dole, former Governor/ Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, and many others. Paris’s works can be found across the U.S., Canada, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Japan. Alexander is a well-known instructor in sculpture, drawing, and anatomy. In addition to teaching privately, he has been an instructor for several North Carolina Arts Councils, The Lucy Daniels Center, the Artspace Arts and Outreach Programs, and the North Carolina Museum of Art Outreach Program.