Contact
For information on purchasing or commissioning original artwork please email alexandershanksart@gmail.com or call 215-353-8705
Alexander Shanks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1996. He began his artistic training at an early age through the classical methods taught by his parents, Nelson and Leona Shanks. Growing up, Alexander worked extensively in graphite and charcoal, in his father’s studio, while his father Nelson painted portrait commissions and other major paintings. Alexander studied at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia, completing four years of training, while simultaneously taking workshops with a variety of notable artists.
Alexander lives in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania where he paints in his private studio, actively fusing classical methods with contemporary ideas. Alexander regularly visits museums for inspiration and historical understanding of art. Heavily influenced by classical and contemporary art, Alexander paints portrait commissions, still life and figure paintings, through observational creative exploration. Producing pieces that correspond to his own life experiences. Alexander is currently a teacher of realist art and an accomplished freelance painter. Alexander is greatly inspired by Andrew Wyeth, Nelson Shanks, John Currin and Edward Hopper.
CV
Education:
Nelson Shanks private Studio
Studio Incamminati Professional Program Studio Incamminati Emerging Artists Program
Rowan University Undergraduate BFA
Biography: Teaching and Lectures
2015: Speaker at TRAC, The Representational Art Conference, Ventura Ca.
2017: Visiting Artist Residency, Culver Academy, Culver, IN.
2019: Bucks County Art Association; Guest Speaker
2019: Doane Academy; Guest Speaker
2019: Wayne Art Center, Adult Education Instructor; Painting the Portrait in Oil
2020 to present: Wayne Art Center, Adult Education Instructor; Painting the Portrait in Oil and Advanced oil painting.
2022: Art Council of Princeton; Portrait Painting Intensive Program Instructor, Princeton, NJ.
2022: Peter's Valley School of Craft; Painting Instructor, Summer Session, Layton, NJ.
2022: Speaker at Delaware Valley University; Professional Artist Lecture Series, Doylestown, PA.
Competitions and Awards
2017, 2019: Salmagundi Club NYC, Sketching Competition
2018: Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show “Best in Show”
2019: Hudson Valley Art Association Study Abroad Scholarship, Perugia Italy 2019: Studio Incamminati Annual Portrait Competition
2019: “21 under 31” Artists to Watch: Southwest Art Magazine September Issue 2019: Selected Artist; Plein Aire Plus at Long Beach Island Foundation
Exhibitions
2016, 2017, 2018 Studio Incamminati Exhibition, Freemans Gallery, Philadelphia Pa.
2016, 2018 Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show
2017, 2018 PYO Exhibition, Union League of Philadelphia
2017, 2018 Univ. of Pennsylvania Hospital, Perelman Center, Department of Plastic Surgery 2017, Plays and Players Gallery, Doom’s Day, Philadelphia
2017, Stanek Gallery, Nelson Shanks and his influence: Past, Present and Future 2018, 22 Gallery,
Philadelphia
2019, Wayne Art Center Annual Spring Show
2019, Avery Gallery Annual Exhibition, Bryn Mawr, PA.
2019, Long Beach Island “ Island Life” Exhibition
2019, Wayne Art Center Faculty Exhibition
2020,Long Beach Island “ Island Life” Exhibition
2021, Art Renewal Center; Semi-Finalist, Still life Category
2021, Spring Off the Wall Exhibition, Wayne PA
2021, Back to Nature Exhibition, Wayne PA
2021, Viridian Artists “30 under 30 Exhibition” NYC
2021, Studio Incamminati "Exhibition Profectus" Philadelphia, PA
2021, Verum Ultimum Gallery "Liminal" Portland Oregon
2021, Wisconsin Museum of Contemporary art "Painting the Figure Now", Wasua, WI
2021, The 92nd annual Phillips Mills Art Association Annual Show, Solebury, PA
2021, New Hope Arts "New Talent", New Hope, PA
2021, Long Beach Island Foundation "Plein Air Plus", Long Beach Island, NJ
2021, Wayne Art Center "Faculty Show", Wayne, PA
2022, Artist Magazine's, "Strokes of Genius", Finalist