Alex Červený works mainly with painting, engraving, drawing and watercolor, exploring in his poetics the narrative possibilities of the work of art.
The images created by Červený draw on the universe of medieval representations, Renaissance altarpieces and surrealism, adding to them literary references, everyday culture – song lyrics and characters from film and television – as well as memories and references to his own biography. The word and the construction of stories are central to his production, as well as the technical rigor associated with the pleasure of making art.
His training took place directly in studios, under the guidance of artists. He studied drawing and painting with Valdir Sarubbi between 1978 and 1982, attended the lithography course with Odair Magalhães, at FAAP, also in 1982, and until 1986 had metal engraving and printing techniques classes with Selma D’Affré. He also had experiences with circus and acrobatic contortionism during the 1980s, at Academia Piolin de Artes Circenses and with the Circo Escola Picadeiro.
He published, in 2019, the book Todos os Lugares, and has also made illustrations for several publications. He has participated in group exhibitions such as: Siamo Foresta, in 2023, and Mondo Reale, 2022, both at the Triennale Milano, in Italy; Planet B: Climate change & the new sublime (2nd Act), Pallazo Bolani, Venice, Italy; Hot Spot: Caring for a Burning World, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Rome, Italy; Sydney Biennale, Australia (2022); Da Letra à Palavra, Museu Judaico, São Paulo; Trees, Fondation Cartier and Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China; Língua Solta, Museu da Língua Portuguesa, São Paulo (2021); Nous les arbres, Fondation Cartier Pour L’art Contemporain, Paris, France; Da Tradição à Experimentação, Fundação Iberê Camargo, Porto Alegre (2019);
He has also held solo exhibitions, among which stand out: Mirabilia, at the Pina Estação, São Paulo, in 2023; Palimpsesto, Museu Lasar Segall, São Paulo; Todos os Lugares, Casa Triângulo, São Paulo, both in 2019; Glossário dos nomes próprios, Casa Triângulo, São Paulo, and Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, in 2015; Pinóquio – 64 Originais de Alex Červený, Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, in 2013; Alex Červený, Centro Cultural São Paulo, São Paulo, in 2012.
His work is part of important public and private collections, including: Fondation Cartier pour L’Art Contemporain, Paris, France; Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, USA; Museu de Arte Moderna, São Paulo; Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro; Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de Janeiro; Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo; Coleção de Arte da Cidade, São Paulo; Itaú Cultural, São Paulo; Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Paraná, Curitiba; Fundação Iberê Camargo, Porto Alegre.
