Patrick Alston

Patrick Alston (b. 1991, Bronx, NY) creates works that, along with their titles, activate thought-provoking and reflective topics including socio-politics, identity, language, and the psychology of color. Alston’s re-contextualized subjects, rich palettes, and complex compositions ignite exhilarating energies, expressed through gestural mark making that project an unwritten aesthetic. The selection of his titles plays a crucial role within the artistic process, comparing abstraction to that of Black English Vernacular as a form of understanding the complexities of language. Alston's images create harmonious tension that challenge viewers to look carefully at the world around them, discovering beauty in unconventional places.

Alston’s work embodies the spirit of Abstract Expressionism and the aesthetic elements of urban landscapes, reflecting the unique period in which he creates. Incorporating visual elements associated with the New York School and serial mark-making, his art documents the evolution of this movement. His paintings push the boundaries of what is possible, highlighting the dynamic nature of contemporary art. Central to Alston's work is his exploration of color, which investigates the harmony and tension of the universe. For Alston, color is the universe's language, binding the human spirit and conveying an ebb and flow that resonates deeply with one’s identity and personhood.

Patrick Alston grew up in the South Bronx and attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, studying Art and Psychology. Alston’s work has been exhibited at Art Basel Miami, Chicago EXPO, and Frieze Los Angeles with Jenkins Johnson Gallery. His work has been featured in Artnet, Hyperallergic, W Magazine, and Culture Type. Alston’s work recently exhibited his first solo museum exhibition in the U.S titled Post-Traumatism: In Search of Freedom, at The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture in Charlotte, North Carolina.