Alexandra Chiou
Alexandra Chiou is a visual artist who draws on memory, landscape, and family history to create intricate collages that explore themes of uncharted terrains as symbols of hope, possibility, and new beginnings. She works primarily with layered hand-cut paper to create dimensional works that investigate the threshold between painting and sculpture.
Alexandra has always looked to nature’s contours and horizons as symbols of hope during challenging times and life transitions, and she is constantly inspired by the quiet power and resilience of nature. Through her works, Alexandra strives to instill a sense of peace, calm, and wonder within individuals by transporting viewers into the magical worlds she creates.
Her works on paper have been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues including Adah Rose Gallery (Kensington, MD), Hillyer Art Space (Washington, DC), Launch LA (Los Angeles, CA), We Rise (Los Angeles, CA), Weatherspoon Art Museum (Greensboro, NC), and the US Embassy in Ethiopia.
Q&A
What are your earliest memories of being artistic? My earliest memories of making art were in elementary school, whether I was doodling, drawing animals, or creating portraits of my parents and sister. I remember always enjoying drawing and making things with my hands. It wasn’t until high school when I realized creating art was a true passion.
When did art become a pursuit? I realized in college that I wanted to continue pursuing art. I had this feeling even when I was younger that art had been a calling to me.
Are you self-taught or formally educated in visual art? I studied studio art and business in college, and I also explored filmmaking for a brief period. I loved film, but I decided to focus on my painting endeavors instead.
How did you first become involved with CAA? I moved to the Cambridge area at the end of last year and came across the CAA website when I was searching for local arts organizations. I have been a member for less than a month and appreciate the welcoming and supportive nature of the CAA creative community. I can’t wait to meet everyone in person as we slowly reopen!
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? Now that it is getting warmer, I have slowly been visiting more galleries and museums. I look forward to getting out even more this summer and finding ways to get more involved with and support the local creative community.
What role do you think the artist plays in society? Artists play such an important role at many levels. We create dialogue and safe spaces for conversations about challenging topics. Making art is about storytelling, sharing our life experiences, fostering empathy, and bringing people together. Ultimately, I think artists express and share what it means to be human.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? I currently work with layered hand-cut paper. I love working with paper because it is a versatile and moldable material. It can be fragile and delicate, but also strong and resilient.
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? I start each piece by painting colors, then I cut out the various shapes and arrange them like puzzle pieces. I like to think of my process akin to putting together a puzzle without necessarily knowing what the end image will be. Regarding ideas for my art, I draw much of my inspiration from nature, memory, and personal experiences. A key theme in my work over the years has been focusing on positivity, hope, and optimism in the face of challenging and uncertain life events and transitions. That concept persists in my art even as my work continues to evolve.
How do you choose your subject matter? Is there a reoccurring theme that carries throughout your work? A lot of my imagery is inspired by a blend of forms, shapes, and colors from nature and memory. It is a mix of experiences from the physical world as well as my imagination. For me, art has been a means of coping with uncertainty. Most recently, I was confronted with an impending loss in my family, and I chose to process the turmoil and my emotions by focusing on hope, joy, and gratitude. I am an optimistic person and even after this experience, truly believe there are always silver linings even in the most challenging situations. As a result of these recent events, these themes of quiet strength, resilience, hope, optimism, and possibility are prevalent throughout my latest work.
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? It’s hard for me to highlight one favorite, but one piece I am especially proud of is “When Darkness Is At Its Darkest, That is the Beginning of All Light.” It is a piece about hope, positivity, and possibility. You will see in many of my pieces that there is an interplay between light and dark, and that light persists even in the presence of dark, as it is a symbol of hope.
“A State of Becoming” was also a milestone piece for me. I really love the different textures in the piece, and the interplay between solid, opaque vs. translucent colors as symbols of certainty vs. the unknown.
Last, “Red River” is a work I am very proud of. It is a deeply personal piece and the first work on paper that integrates my own poetry. I made it during the height of the pandemic thinking about these concepts of change and disruption. I am very excited about continuing to integrate text and poetry into my work and seeing what comes next!
What is one of your artistic goals? I want my art to instill feelings of hope, joy, wonder, and beauty in others. I hope that my artistic legacy is one of quiet strength, courage, resilience, generosity, and humility.
What’s your favorite place to see art, and why? I recently visited the SoWa Arts District, which I really loved and plan to continue exploring. There are so many amazing galleries and artist studios there. I have also seen some wonderful shows at Praise Shadows Gallery in Brookline. I haven’t explored all the local museums here just yet, but am looking forward to it as we begin to reopen.
What living artists are you inspired by? Although there are a number of artists that I am inspired by, three artists in particular come to mind. I look to Lisa Hoke and Valerie Hegarty, and I admire their use of material and the sculptural aspects of their works. I am also very inspired by Jiha Moon and her amazing works on paper and ceramics.
Do you have any shows coming up? I recently wrapped up a joint exhibition in Raleigh, NC, but I have nothing finalized as of yet. I am hoping for some potential opportunities to bear fruit soon!
Alexandra is also featured in CAA’s 2021 Emerging Artists Exhibition, which runs through July 29, and she is featured in our virtual Small Works Exhibit as well, which is up through August 29.
See more from Alexandra
Website: alexandrachiou.com
Instagram: @alexandrachiou