Alex Israel is known for turning familiar images and material languages into sleek, high-gloss objects that feel both pop and art-historical. Across his practice, he builds works that translate everyday iconography—especially from Southern California and media culture—into physical form, using the look, shine, and surface effects of commercial fabrication to shift how viewers read familiarity.
For Upside Down, Israel extends his exploration of Los Angeles imagery into sculptural form: fins enlarged from surfboards, carved in Plexiglas and suspended to play with reflectivity, transparency, and orientation. The results emphasize how perception changes when objects meant for water are re-situated as indoor “artifacts,” converting motion and nostalgia into a suspended, gallery-scale experience.
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