About the Artist

Douglas Alvarez, an artist from Los Angeles, was brought up in the sprawl of Southern California suburbia. He finds inspiration in various sources, drawing on childhood memories, the beauty of ordinary objects, people, and the spiritual aspects of nature. These diverse influences create a contrast that significantly impacts his artistic vision.

Using predominantly acrylic paints, oils, and mixed-media sculptures, Douglas Alvarez employs a diverse range of techniques to bring his artistic vision to life. By applying viscous paint with both a palette knife and brush, he captures textures, mimicking the weather-beaten surfaces of outdoor elements. He contrasts the texture by delineating the details of objects and faces. Restricting his color palette to grayscale, metallics, and muted tints reminiscent of a public school environment, Alvarez establishes a tangible connection to the nostalgia interwoven into his current creative endeavors.

Apart from his role as a painter, Alvarez is involved in graphic design, installation art, photography, children's book writing, and is a world wanderer. This multidisciplinary approach not only enhances his artistic voice but also enables him to explore storytelling alongside his visual creations.

Douglas has been part of the Los Angeles art scene since 2006 and has displayed his work in various cities, including New York, Berlin, Santa Barbara, Denver, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Solo exhibitions of his art have been held at bG Gallery in Santa Monica, Gabba Gallery in Los Angeles, and Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock. In addition to showcasing his own work, Douglas has curated exhibitions. Despite being accepted to a mediocre law school, he chose to pursue dual degrees in Art and Political Science at California State University, Northridge, solidifying his dedication to his passion for art.

CV

Solo Exhibition:

  • Gen X Forever (2023): bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

  • Wildlife is Beautiful (2022): Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Pretty Pollution (2015): bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

  • Coffee, Tea or Meat (2013): Balconi Coffee Company, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Kio Griffith)

  • Comfort Food (2012): Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA

  • Too Cool For School (2011): Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA

  • Basic Nature of Things (2010): California State University Channel Island, Ventura, CA

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2024:

  • Playtime: Sub Terra Galery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Sweet Factory: bG Gallery, Santa Monic, CA

  • Unconditional Love: Avenue 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA

2023:

  • Brewery Artwalk: Jesus Wall Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Spectrum Gestalt: bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

  • Wishlist 11: Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2022:

  • Quaranta: bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (Curated by Susan Lizotte and Jenny Hager)

  • California Love: The Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA

  • 8X8 Fund Raiser: Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA

  • Inaugural Exhibition: The Makery, Los Angeles, CA

2021:

  • 20th Anniversary Silent Auction: Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA

  • Heroes: bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (Curated by Sung-Hee Son)

  • Remix, The Art of Music: Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Coaster Show 2021: Gallery 30 South, Pasadena, CA

2020:

  • Loteria! VI: Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • L.A. Art Show 2020: bG Gallery Booth, LA Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

  • Monster Mash: SugarMynt Gallery, South Pasadena, CA

2019:

  • Year-End 8 x 8 Silent Art Auction: Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA

  • Wishlist 7: Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • The Coaster Show 2019: Gallery 30 South, Pasadena, CA

  • Let Me Eat Cake Too: Blue Roof Studios, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Kristine Schomaker)

  • Spectrum-Gestalt 6: bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2018:

  • Let Me Eat Cake, PØST: Kamikaze, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Kristine Schomaker)

  • Indoor Out: Cactus Gallery, Echo Park, CA

  • Visual Dessert: SugarMnt Gallery, Pasadena, CA

  • 144 on Wood: Gestalt Project Space, Santa Monica, CA

2017:

  • LA Art Show: bG Gallery Booth, LA Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

  • On The Grid: Art Share L.A., Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Edgar Garcia)

  • Melody - An Online Art Exhibition: Flower Pepper Gallery

  • The Food Show: bG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Daniel Rolnik)

  • 2017 Fall Season Show: Curated by Edgar Garcia, Art Share L.A., Los Angeles, CA

  • Crate diggers 2: Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Petting Zoo Exhibition: Sugar Mynt Gallery, South Pasadena, CA

2016:

  • Consort: Curated by Kelly Thompson, Art Share L.A., Los Angeles, CA

  • I Art You: Curated by Michelle Berc and Baha Denish, The Collective HQ., Los Angeles, CA

  • bG Summer Group Show,, bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (Curated by Om)

  • Groundswell, Groundspace Project, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Mat Gleason)

  • MAS Attack: Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA

  • 5th Year Anniversary Show: Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, CA

2015:

  • Buen Consejo: The Montalban, Hollywood, CA (Curated by Baha Danesh)

  • The Ark...and on Earth: LAC+USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA (Curated by Kathy Gallegos)

  • 144 (ii) Group Show: bG Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA

2014:

  • MAS ATTACK 6: Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA

  • Plastics Show: illuminoidal arts, Long Beach, CA

  • Games: BG Gallery Bleicher/Golightly/Gorman, Santa Monica, CA

  • Summer Flies: Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, CA

2013:

  • Wish List: The Gabba Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Home Sweete Home: Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, CA

  • Homing Pigeon: Gallery Lara, Tokyo, Japan (Curated by Kio Griffith)

  • The Way We Are Show: Modest Fly Art Studio Gallery, Tujunga, CA

  • THE ART OF INSTAGRAM: 1650 Gallery, Echo Park, CA

2012:

  • Affordable Art Fair: bG Gallery at LA LIVE, Los Angeles, CA

  • Hell on Wheels: Lofts Gallery, Lancaster, CA

  • Que Te Vaya Bien: Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA

  • Femme Fatale: Cella Gallery, North Hollywood, CA

  • Sound Works: Bleicher/Golightly Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

  • Sex & Candy: Sangria Fine Arts, Los Angeles

  • Food For Thought: Monkeyhouse Gallery, Los Angeles

2011:

  • See No Evil: Riverside Municipal Auditorium, Riverside, CA

  • Children’s Nature Institute Gala: Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA

  • Summer Sweethearts: Lofts Gallery, Lancaster, CA

  • Micro Gestalt: Bleicher/Golightly Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

  • 144: Blue 5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2010:

  • LA X SF: 63 Bluxom Gallery, San Francisco, CA

  • Andi Garcia Art Gallery: Santa Barbara, CA

  • After Shock LA: Royal/T, Culver City, CA

  • Rothick Art Haus: Anaheim, CA

  • G-40 Summit: Art Whino Gallery, Arlington, VA

  • Dream Nature: Two Roads Gallery, Studio City, CA

  • The Beat Goes On: New Puppy Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2009:

  • Celebrando! L.A. Latino Heritage Artists: Fremont Gallery, South Pasadena, CA

  • Muertos Con Leche: Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park, CA

  • Featured Artist: Chuckwa & United Cat, Fullerton, CA

  • Critters: The Bailey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Human Botany Show: Julie Rico Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Chuckwa & United Cat: Fullerton, CA

  • Recycling Bin Art: Coachella Music Festival & Global Inheritance, Indio, CA

2008:

  • Bird Show: Solid Art Collective, Denver, CO

  • Mona Lisa Show: Strychnin Gallery, Berlin, Germany

  • Hell show: MF Gallery New York, NY

2007:

  • Installation Artist: The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Colabro Show: Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA

  • Clown Show: Fish Out Of Water Gallery, San Diego, CA

  • Everything But the Kitsch ‘N Sync: La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2006:

  • F#@k Yeah Fest: Los Angeles, CA

  • See You In Hell: MF Gallery, New York, NY

  • Antagonist Movement: Niagara, New York, NY

2005:

  • Student Exhibition: Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA

Curatorial Projects

2023

  • Gen X Forever, bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2019

  • Beasts in the Basement Pop-up Show, Los Angeles, CA

2016

  • Sticks & Stones, Cactus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2013

  • Objectified II, Bleicher/Golightly Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2011

  • I Still Heart L.A., Monkeyhouse Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2009

  • I Heart L.A., Monkeyhouse Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Publications

2024

2020

  • Latino Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide for the City of Los Angeles

2015

2014

2012

2011

2009

  • Books by Authors: North Long Beach Anthology First Edition, Published by Lulu