Kent Alexander is a painter with over fifty years of active studio practice, bringing rare depth of experience to figurative work that bridges representation and abstraction. He holds an MFA in Painting and Printmaking from California College of the Arts, Oakland, and a BA in Painting from UCLA, and has taught painting and drawing at San Francisco State University, Diablo Valley College, and Monterey Peninsula College.
Alexander's work has earned significant recognition, including the Juror Award and Merit Award at the California State Fair California Works Exhibition, First Place at the "Arts on Fire" Competition at Sanchez Art Center, and the prestigious Barclay Simpson Fellowship Award. His paintings are held in collections across the United States and Europe, including the Karpeles Museum Collection in Santa Barbara, California.
His paintings have appeared in major Hollywood productions, including Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Freaky Friday (2003), and Simone (2002). Alexander has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout his career and has been living and exhibiting in the Chicagoland area since 2022.
SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2026 – Selected for the One of a Kind Show Chicago, one of the Midwest's premier juried art exhibitions.
- 2005 – Artwork featured in the major motion picture Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
- 2005 – Solo exhibition, Solomon Dubnick Gallery, Sacramento, California.
- 2005 – Featured in American Art Collector magazine (Premier Issue).
- 2003 – Artwork featured in the major motion picture Freaky Friday.
- 2002 – Artwork featured in the major motion picture Simone.
- 2001 – Solo exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, San Francisco, California.
- 1999 – Selected for New American Paintings, a nationally recognized juried publication showcasing outstanding contemporary artists.
- 1999 – Recipient of the California State Fair Juror's Award and First Place – Arts on Fire Competition.
- 1997 – Earned an MFA in Painting from California College of the Arts.
- 1994–Present – University art instructor, teaching drawing, painting, and color theory at San Francisco State University, Diablo Valley College, and Monterey Peninsula College (over two decades of teaching experience).
- 1989–Present – More than 35 years of professional exhibition experience, with solo and juried exhibitions throughout California and the Midwest, and recipient of numerous juried awards and honors.