An Artist You Should Know: Alex Xerri
Alex Xerri is a Sydney-based painter single-handedly ensuring PS2s and brick phones stay relevant.
You may have seen her work pop up at China Heights Gallery (her representatives) in Surry Hills and if you haven’t, then you’re in for bright, beautiful eye-delight.
I first saw Alex’s work when I walked past her studio space and saw a slew of canvas each coloured with early 2000s style mobile phones, Nintendoes, CD’s, and vintage video game landscapes. For me, a 90s kid who grew up with these items at the centre of play, it was like seeing the best parts of my own childhood through Alex’s own artistic eyes.
After finishing up the best five years of her adult life studying art at NAS - the National Art School, Darlinghurst - she’s been busy painting, sculpting and putting on exhibitions in Australia, until recently when she was selected to participate in Bored Peach Club’s month-long artist residency on Gozo (not Malta).
Before I threw my questions at her, Alex pulled out a notebook from her bag which she proudly told me she’d made out of materials from her floor.
Wait how did you make that!?
I had a leftover piece of checkered lino that was put on the kitchen floor and then I put these metal things through it and threaded a book through it and it’s a notebook.
I love the creative energy just making everything into anything.
Yeah I’m constantly making things. At my place and my studio have works in progress everywhere, tools on the windowsills, my dining table is covered with things I’m painting. It gets crazy.
I feel a sense of nostalgia in your paintings. Are you a nostalgic person?
Definitely. Not in a way like ‘nostalgia will save us’, but in a way like everything’s moving so quickly and I can barely keep up. I feel a bit left in the dust because I’m not very good with technology. Painting is hands-on so I don’t have to worry about it in that world.
I collect a lot of physical media like games and magazines, which I suppose with time passing it becomes nostalgic but at the time I got them they were new, I just never threw thm away.
Do you try and tell a story with your shows or more tie everything to a certain theme?
I think of my shows like video game levels, a different show is like a different level. So less of a story and more like I’m building a world.
How was your recent residency in - Malta was it?
It was in Gozo, a sister island of Malta. It’s actually where my dad's side of the family is from so when I found out about it I was like ‘what are the odds of like having a residency there!?’.
I was there for a month with another artist, (we became best mates instantly) we lived in a three-hundred-year-old farmhouse in Xagħra and we just painted and explored the island every day.
After that, I’d booked a three-day pit stop in Cairo, but with the conflict going on right now my flights were cancelled twice. So I ended up being in Cairo for fifteen days and just kept painting on my hostel room balcony.
Cairo looks amazing. Thoughts on who built the pyramids?
(Laughs) I asked a guide if she got asked this a lot and she said she constantly deflects questions about aliens - so funny. I mean when you ask me? I don't know, just the ancient civilization that was there then - I guess people had a lot of time back then.
How important do you think social media is for your career as an artist?
Obviously it helps, it's like having a portfolio in your back pocket. But you don't want to only be an Instagram artist. If Instagram disappeared tomorrow, I’d be okay because I'm working towards a show at the gallery. You just want to always be grounded in the real world. I think of it as a tool, Instagram's a tool.
What are your upcoming shows?
My China Heights Gallery solo show is coming early 2027. In the meantime I have a survey of recent works from previous exhibitions & the residency on show at Louis Vuitton, Brisbane via China Heights Gallery. That’s on show from April 22nd.
For more info on her art and shows, find Alex on Instagram @prehistorytv