Conflicted Beloved Print

Hello, my name is Alexander Smith Creative name is Aleco. I started working in the fine arts as a preteen. Later in my freshman year of high school, I got more serious with my craft and decided to start doing more in the art world. I usually transition from paintings and drawings to music/filmmaking and so on. Sometimes the creative process requires that I do both. I have been in Hattiesburg Mississippi for 22 years. I have always had a tricky childhood that led me into some dark places. With the stability of a safe neighborhood but a rocky home life, I understood the challenges that were created by mental issues, religious indoctrination, and ignorance. Growing up in the South, I lived in the bible belt for years. My bittersweet relationship with my religion and sexuality has caused me to create pieces of work that illustrate the complexities of inclusive identities. That's why in a great deal of my work I emphasize Queer concepts and the reality of being black as well. This along with undertones of biblical context creates another layer of storytelling to my work. In many ways, I focus on humanity and the issues that people face whether it's from an event they could control or an event that is beyond their understanding. In this, I continue my research diving into the depths of artistic creation through social commentary.