Artist profile
Alejandro
Rodriguez Plaza
Alex R. Plaza (Madrid, 1992) is a Spanish-Australian visual artist whose work merges contemporary cubism, surrealism, and bold geometric abstraction. His paintings explore the tension between body and consciousness, identity and appearance, through a symbolic and highly recognisable visual language.
Trained as an architect in Spain, Alex R. Plaza moved to Sydney to pursue painting full-time. His practice blends geometric structure with fragmented figuration, creating a personal vocabulary of masks, hands, and eyes that reflect on authenticity in an increasingly artificial world. Working between Sydney, Madrid, and Andalusia, Plaza builds compositions where geometry acts as containment and gesture as resistance —a balance that defines his contemporary cubist approach.
Career Highlights
- Finalist — National Emerging Art Prize (NEAP), Australia (2025)
- Solo and group exhibitions between Australia and Spain (Sydney, Madrid, Granada)
- Architectural background (University of Granada) shaping his geometric and structural visual language
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I work primarily with oil paint and oil pastels on linen. These materials give me the depth, flexibility, and expressive range I need. Oil allows me to build slow, layered compositions where geometry and gesture coexist, while linen provides the structure and durability that supports my contemporary cubist language.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
My process begins with quick drawings and compositional studies where I map out the geometric structure and symbolic elements of the piece. From there, I build the painting in layers, balancing controlled architectural forms with more gestural, expressive marks. Once the work is resolved in the studio, I varnish, document, and professionally prepare it for exhibition. Every stage is intentional, from concept to final presentation.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
I work from my studio in Bondi Beach, a bright space where natural light and calm surroundings help me focus on structure, colour, and gesture. My environment is simple and organised —oils, sketches, and reference studies everywhere— but always oriented toward the discipline of painting. It’s a space where I can slow down, think, and build each work with intention.
