Bio
Alex Coma
born in 1991 - Montreal, Canada
Founder of www.rozeumbra.com (2023) - Mentorship for Visionary Artists and Creators
Graduated from Concordia University in 2014 with a BFA in Photography, Alex Coma then pursued his studies at the Montreal Fine Arts Academy where he received a merit scholarship in 2017. Recipient of grants from The City of Granby (2018, 2019, 2020) and of the Montreal Art Counsel (ARTCH 2019), the projects of Alex Coma have been presented in individual, group exhibitions and art fairs, notably at the Visionary Art Collective (New-York 2021), Marie-Uguay Cultural Center (2021), Archive Contemporary (2020), Stewart Hall Gallery (2020), Ubisoft Gallery (2019), Affordable Art Fair Battersea (London 2019), Affordable Art Fair Brussels (2019), Ave Gallery (2019), The Hamptons Art Fair (2018), VAV Gallery (2014). His work is in a few collections such as the Colart Collection, the Ubisoft Collection and Jacques Champagne’s Collection and has been talked about in media such as CISM (radio/ 2021), CBC Arts (online/ 2020), Vie des Arts (magazine/ 2020), The Gazette (newspaper/ 2020) La Presse (newspaper/ 2019), and The Concordian (newspaper/ 2018).
Artistic Statement
Alex Coma's artistic practice is an intricate synthesis of tradition and innovation, through which he seeks to craft immersive experiences that delve into the complexities of human consciousness. His work is characterized by a seamless integration of classical painting techniques with avant-garde installation art, resulting in spaces that invite viewers into profound realms of philosophical inquiry and self-reflection.
Central to Coma's practice is a rigorous engagement with cross-cultural symbology. By harnessing the power of ancient wisdom, Coma challenges contemporary paradigms, prompting a re-evaluation of long-held beliefs and assumptions. Each symbol in his work is carefully chosen for its historical and cultural resonance, acting as a fulcrum around which the viewer's perception of reality may pivot. Coma’s strategic juxtaposition of disparate symbols from diverse cultures serves to highlight the complex, layered nature of existence, encouraging viewers to navigate his work on multiple levels of consciousness.
Iconography is not merely decorative in Coma’s oeuvre; it functions as a sophisticated visual language through which he explores the contours of the human psyche. His paintings, often hyper-layered, invite viewers to peel back the surface and uncover the deeper strata of meaning that lies beneath. This process of uncovering is central to the viewer's experience, as it mirrors the introspective journey that Coma himself undertakes in his artistic explorations. Through this engagement, viewers are compelled to confront their own narratives and question the underlying assumptions that shape their understanding of the world.
The immersive nature of Coma’s installations further enhances this introspective experience. Viewers are encouraged to engage in a form of mindful circumambulation, a practice that mirrors the spiritual pilgrimages found in various religious traditions. This movement through space is designed to foster a deeper connection to the themes explored in Coma's work, such as the interplay between the inner and outer worlds, the transient nature of existence as articulated in the Buddhist concept of Anicca, and the elemental composition of humanity as an ever-changing blend of earth, water, air, and fire.
In its purest form, Coma’s work is a crucible for transformation. It challenges the viewer to transcend the superficial and engage with the fundamental questions of existence. By illuminating the path toward a more expansive vision of possibility, Coma invites us all to embark on a journey of self-discovery and collective awakening, offering a vision of art as a catalyst for profound personal and societal change.
« The artist is not a person endowed with free will who seeks his own ends, but one who allows art to realize it’s purposes through him. » ~Carl Jung, CW 15, Para 157
« All symbols (…) are objectified ideas, weather human or Divine; and as such possess a real meaning; and this meaning is altered, extended and rendered more complex with every additional thing or influence by which we find it surrounded, or with which, we find it correlated. » - Author and Mystic initiated in the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor
