Drawing from her own story, with a loving yet tumultuous working-class upbringing at its heart, Elizabeth Alexander works to unpack the social, cultural, and psychological pressures within American domesticity. Raised to see the possibility in found or unwanted things, she regards the domestic environment as an extension of human ingenuity. Traditional craft techniques are adapted to manipulate material artifacts, similar to those from her past, in order to reflect on the values placed on these items and what that might communicate to others. This work can range from a disassembled teacup, to photographs of altered environments, to site-specific installations with sound and performance.
Image: Elizabeth Alexander, Crumbs Under My Pillow, 2023. Wallpaper, adhesive, Tyvek, cast paper, wood. 120 x 240 x 80 inches. Image courtesy of the artist.