Alexis McKeown
Canmore, Alberta
ARTIST BIO
Alexis McKeown is a Canadian photographer, specializing in studio work in the areas of still life, portraiture, and figurative study.
Drawing from traditions in classical painting & sculpture, as well as in contemporary staged photographic works, Alexis is building beautiful compositions in the studio, and layering them with depth & symbolism. The study of light, expression, communication, form and movement are constantly informing her work.
PROJECT STATEMENT
I love food, but I don’t think I’m supposed to.
This body of work is a collection of self-portraits and still life photographs that I set out to make as I began figuring out my conflicted relationship with food and eating.
I make all of my work alone in the studio, drawing on my childhood ballet training for the performance art aspects, and on my love of classical & baroque artwork for the inspiration behind the lighting and composition. The process of building these photographs and using myself in the frame is messy, awkward, sometimes painful, and often hilarious.
My aim is to draw the viewer in with familiar elements of beauty & humour, in order to confront them with the conflict underneath the surface. It’s a conflict many people hold within themselves, and I share this work with hopes of fostering connection a conversation around a topic that’s often kept quiet, despite the incessant inner noise it unleashes.
