Artist Statement

Alex Bard is a U.S. based interdisciplinary artist, whose works span a range of mediums including sculpture, costume, performance art, photo and video.

Anthropology, mythology, comparative religions and psychology inspire his work. He strives to explore universally understood symbols that transcend cultural, historical and political boundaries, and speak to audiences from all backgrounds. Each piece presents archetypal images that reflect different facets and levels of human consciousness, encouraging self-awareness and reflection.

The goal for his art is to help people know and understand themselves better. Alex Bard aims to remind viewers of their own innate strengths and qualities, empowering the deeper meaning of their own lives.

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Artist Bio

Alex Bard is a multidisciplinary artist, born and based in Philadelphia, PA, best defined as a magical realist. Bard’s imagined characters express and explore their world through costume, sculpture, photography, performance and film.

Bard holds a BFA from University of the Arts and an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). He attended high school in Maine, where his first exhibition was at the Hallowell Gallery.  

Alex Bard has since exhibited in NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Barcelona, and the  WaterMill Center. His work is in private collections in the U.S. and Europe, the Pennsylvania National Guard Museum, and the Episcopal Cathedral.  

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Education

2023
Maryland Institute College of Art – MFA – Mount Royal Interdisciplinary Fine Art

2016
University of the Arts – BFA – Interdisciplinary Fine Arts emphasis in Sculpture

2012
Kents Hill School – High School Diploma

2012
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts -- Wood Workshop Spring

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Awards

2016
John F. Martin Welding Award

2012
Kents Hill School Sculpture Award

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Experience

August 2024 - current
Tom Miles Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Studio Assistant responsibilities include general fabrication and sculpture finishing

November 2023 - May 2024
Matthew Barney Studio,  Long Island City, NY
Studio assistant responsibilities included silicone mold making, resin casting and chasing, sculpting and constructing resin pieces and fired stoneware, handling and moving artwork, driving 26ft box truck

June 2023 - October 2023
Bryan Hunt, Wainscott, NY
Studio assistant responsibilities included waxing bronzes, Rhino 3D modeling, organization

July 2016 - 2020
Bill Curran Design, Philadelphia, PA
Fabricated and installed architectural metal design elements (staircases, awnings, walls, railings, signage, and pergolas) for residential and commercial buildings, and developed skills including: reading construction drawings; transporting work (driving 16ft flatbed and other trucks); rigging on job sites; finishing hot rolled steel work; operating forklift and power tools (horizontal bandsaw, drill press, angle grinder); plasma cutting; MIG, TIG and SMAW welding; carpentry

Fall 2015 - Spring 2016
University of the Arts Sculpture Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Shop monitor: assisted students with all equipment use and technical questions; maintained wood and metal equipment, tool and work areas; ensured safety standards

July 2014 - June 2016
Outcast Studios, Philadelphia, PA
Studio assistant for cast bronze work: degating, chasing, sandblasting, and applying metal finishes

Summers of 2007 & 2008
Wheaton Arts, Millville, NJ
Intern assisting studio director and glass artist residents in all aspects of glassblowing process

Exhibitions

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Group

2024
Rolling Stones Gather Together, Water Mill Center International Summer Program, Water Mill, NY

Starman Visits Manhattan, ChaShaMa, New York, NY

Starman (performance), Botanica Grove, Brooklyn, NY

2023
Featherman, Art In Odd Places, New York, NY

-scapes, PH21 Gallery, Barcelona, ES

MICA Mount Royal Thesis Show, Baltimore, MD

2022
Holding Tension, Fred Lazurus IV Center, Leidy Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2022 - present
Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the United Nations, New York, NY
Group Installation

2021
One Wall, Two Wall, Floor, Fred Lazurus IV Center, Leidy Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Sculpture in the Glen III, InLiquid, Gladwyne, PA

2020
Sculpture in the Glen II, InLiquid, Gladwyne, PA

2018
Pennsylvania National Guard State Partnership Program, 25^th Anniversary Commemorative Sword, PANG Museum, Fort Indiantown Gap, PA
Permanent Collection

2017
Headhunter, Fairwinds, Southampton, NY

Headhunter, Kents Hill School Gallery, Kents Hill, ME

2016
Lumenignisism, University of the Arts Juried International Group Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
Performance Photos

Lumenignisism, University of the Arts Senior Thesis Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA

2015
Dodecahedral Frame, Hamilton Hall Public Art Initiative, Philadelphia PA
Outdoor Exhibition of Twin Sculptures  

2014
Three Faiths, Episcopal Cathedral sculpture, Philadelphia, PA
Permanent Collection

2012
Group Exhibition, Hallowell Gallery,  Hallowell, ME
Selected Ceramic Pieces