ALEC VON BARGEN
Born in New York City, Alec Von Bargen is a multidisciplinary creator with studies in Dramatic Arts, Art History and Visual Arts/Photography.
He has worked as an actor in productions screened at the Cannes, Berlin and Sundance film festivals, helmed by the likes of Robert de Niro, Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Walkow, and Gabriel Beristain, among others.
He has produced, directed and written for the stage, film and television. He studied dramaturgy in Mexico City under renowned Mexican playwright Hugo Argüelles and at Oxford University, UK. He adapted the award-winning stage production of Closet Land (winner of Mexico’s FONCA grant) and wrote ‘Tarantata’ (Onassis Playwriting Competition Finalist, Greece).
Von Bargen is also a well-established visual artist, most recently exhibiting at the 54th and 56th editions of the Venice Biennale, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the OCAT Museum, Shanghai and Les Rencontres D’Arles Festival, France. His work has won numerous awards and is included in public and private collections worldwide.
Alec Von Bargen is also visual advisor/creative storytelling mentor for the Venice Film Festival’s Biennale College Cinema, audience and creative production expert for Attagirl Feature Film Incubator (TIFF and Sydney Film Festival championed) and The Red SeaFilm Festival/TortinoFilmLab’s Red Sea Lodge.
Selected Exhibitions:
2024
- Of That Which Remains - Solo Exhibition - Castromediano Museum - Lecce, Italy - Book
2022-23
- Chief Curator and Artistic Director of 'The Living Archives - The Anatomy of Looking Back' at Palazzo Palmieri / Castromediano Museum - Lecce, Italy
2021
- The Subtle Act of Forgetting and Being Forgotten - Castromediano Museum - Lecce, Italy
- 10 years of Swatch - The Swatch Art Peace Hotel - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Hypothesis Atto III - Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan, Italy
2019
- 4 to 27 October 2019 - HIP Festival, Hull
- October - December 2019 - 'Camminando' - L'Università Cattolica di Milano - Milan, ItalyN
- 27 Sept. 2019 - 6 Jan. 2020 - 'Alec Von Bargen - So.lil.o.quy' - Museo del Violino - Cremona, Italy
- 26 August - 24 September - Soncino Biennale - Soncino, Italy
- 5 July to 4 September 2019 - Municipal Gallery, Dublin
- 22 May to 23 June 2019 - Royal Albert Hall, London
- May 2019 - Head On Photo Festival - Sydney, Australia
- 30 March to 12 May - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
- 8 March – 14 July 2019 - Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition - York Art Gallery - York, UK
- March - Alec Von Bargen - So.lil.o.quy - Théâtre Pitoëff - Geneva, Switzerland -February
- Art Fair Philippines - Represented by District Gallery, Manila -February - Royal Photographic Society, Bristol
- January 19th - February 28th - Solo Exhibition 'So.lil.o.quy' - Leo Gallery - Shanghai, China
- January -2019 - Photo19 - Photofest Zurich - Zurich, Switzerland
2018
- December – Fifty Dots Gallery – Barcelona, Spain
- November - Eigenheim Gallery - Berlin, Germany
- October – 161st Exhibition – Royal Photographic Society - London, UK
- June – NES Exhibition – Reykjavik, Iceland
- May – 10th Anniversary Group Show – Leo Gallery - The Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
2017
- November 2017 – Photo Paris – Grand Palais – Paris, France
- August 2017 – IX Soncino Biennale – Fuori Biennale – Soncino, Italy
- June - September 2017 - Landskrona Foto Festival - Landskrona , Sweden - Catalogue
- June 2017 – 25 Years Of Humanitarian Action in Myanmar – The Yangon Gallary – Yangon, Myanmar
- June 2017 - 'The Gaze' - Curated by Shlomit Dror - The Cluster Gallery - Brooklyn, New York
- March - May 2017 - Photographic Arts National Exhibition -The Gallery at Mark Arts - Kansas, USA
2016
- December 2016 - 'KremaKollettiva' - Crema, Italy
- October 2016 – ‘Artists Without Borders' - Karşi Sanat Gallery - İstanbul
- September 2016 - 'Alec Von Bargen - Solo Exhibition' - SWATCH Art Peace Hotel - Shanghai, China - Catalogue
- September 2016 – Photo Shanghai
- May 2016 - 'Man, forgotten' - Solo Exhibition - Galleria Nuova Morone - Milan, Italy - Catalogue
- May 2016 – KremaKollettiva - Director and Creator - Crema, Italy
- April 2016 - 'Artists Without Borders' -Wolkersdorf Castle – Austria
- April 2016 – Group Show – JLS Gallery – Mexico City, Mexico
2015
- December 2015 - MUTOSCOPIO Videoart Festival - Puebla, Mexico
- November 2015 - PhotoVisa Festival - Krasnodar, Russia
- September 2015 - 'Alec Von Bargen - 'Solo Exhibition' - Leo Gallery - Hong Kong, PRC
- August 2015 - 'Mexico Vivo' - Modern Art Museum - Mexico City, Mexico
- July 2015 - 'Moscow Art Communities' - Museum of Moscow - Moscow, Russia
- May 2015 - 56th Venice Biennale - Arsenale - Venice, Italy
- February 2015 - 'Hybrid Memories' - BAC Bogota Contemporary Art Center - Bogota, Colombia
- January 2015 - Finalist at the 2015 Kontinent Awards - Istanbul, Turkey -January 2015 - Small is Beautiful - Leo Gallery - Shanghai, China
2014
- November - December 2014 - Photography Open Salon - A retrospective - Collectors Edition - The Royal Docks - London, UK
- October 2014 - January 2015 - FACES & TRACES – a tribute to freedom, creativity and vision - The Swatch Art Peace Hotel - Shanghai, China - Book
- September 2014 - Photo as Video, Video as Photo - Center for Creative industries FABRIKA - Moscow, Russia
- June - July 2014 - Portraits In Contemporary Photography : Selections From a Series - Drift Gallery - New Hampshire, USA
- May - June 2014 - 'Confessions From The Still' - Galleria RezArte ContemporariaFestival Fotografia Europea - Reggio Emilia, Italy
- May 2014 - Veritas Feminae - Solo Exhibition - Ex Filanda Meroni Museum - Soncino, Italy - Catalogue
- May 2014 - 'Less is More' - The Mitchell Gallery - Maryland, USA - Catalogue
- May 2014 - "Between the image and personality # 2" - National Centre for Contemporary Art and Gallery Victoria - Samara, Russia
- April 2014 - 'Now & After '14' - The State Museum of Gulag - Moscow, Russia - Catalogue
- April 2014 - Art Monaco - Irreversible Art Projects - Monte Carlo, Monaco
- April 2014 - Aesthetica's 2014 top 100 Contemporary Artists Exhibition - York St. Mary's - York, UK - Catalogue
- January 2014 - Art Palm Beach - Irreversible Projects - Palm Beach, USA
2013
- December 2013 - PULSE Art Fair - Miami Art Basel Week - Miami, USA - Represented by Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan, Italy - Catalogue
- December 2013 - ART MIAMI Art Fair - Miami Art Basel Week - Miami, USA - Represented by Irreversible Magazine - Miami, USA - Featured cover artist
- October 2013 - Book presentation - Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan Italy - Book
- September 2013 - Veritas Feminae - Solo exhibition and book presentation - OCAT Contemporary Art Terminal Museum - Shanghai, China - Book
- September 2013 - Guest speaker / lecturer - K11 Art Center - Shanghai, China
- August 2013 - VII Soncino Biennale - Soncino, Italy - Catalogue
- August 2013 - Pink Lady for Lady Day - Solo exhibition - Little Victories Gallery - Shanghai, China
- July 2013 - Shortlisted for the 2013 Dubai International Emerging Artist Award - Dubai, UAE - Catalogue
- July 2013 - Les Rencontres Des Arles - Work present in two award-winning publications - Arles, France Books
- July 2013 - Guest Speaker - The River South Center - Shanghai, China
- May 2013 - Alec Von Bargen - Solo exhibition - MIAF - Milan Image Art Fair - Milan, Italy - Represented by Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan, Italy - Catalogue
- April 2013 - MACO Art Fair - Mexico City, Mexico - Represented by Ramis Barquet Gallery - New York City, USA - Catalogue
- April - October 2013 - Selected and invited by Francois Henri Pinault and the SWATCH Group as Guest Artist at the SWATCH Art Peace Hotel - Shanghai, China
- March 2013 - An Eye for an Ear - The Photography Open Salon - The China House - Penang, Malaysia - Catalogue
- March 2013 - Veritas Feminae - Installation - The College of Fine Arts of The University of New South Wales - Sydney, Australia
- February 2013 - The Biggs Museum of American Art - Delaware, USA
- January - March 2013 - Guest artist at COFA - The University of New South Wales - Sydney, Australia
2012
- December 2012 - PULSE Art Fair - Miami Art Basel Art Week - Miami, USA - Represented by Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan, Italy - Catalogue
- December 2012 - The End - Miami Beach Regional Library - Miami Beach, USA - Catalogue
- December 2012 - Guest Lecturer - IRREVERSIBLE Miami Art Basel launch - Art Wynwood - Miami, USA
- October 2012 - Padova Art Fair - Padova, Italy
- September 2012 - The Long Walk Home - Solo exhibition - Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan, Italy - Catalogue
- July 2012 - Les Recontres des Arles - An Eye for an Ear - Photography Open Salon - Galerie Huit - Arles, France - Catalogue
- March - May 2012 - The Cross Shown - Nuova Galleria Morone - Milan, Italy - Catalogue
- February 2012 - Transience - The Photography Open Salon - Galerie Huit - Penang, Malaysia - Catalogue
- February 2012 - OCCCA - Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts - Los Angeles, USA
2011
- June - November 2011 - The 54th Venice Biennale - Official Selection - Stupore - Costa Rica Pavilion - Venice, Italy - Official Biennale book and exhibition catalogue
- July 2011 - Transience - The Photography Open Salon - Galerie Huit - Les Recontres des Arles - Arles, France - Catalogue
- July 2011 - VI Soncino Biennale - Soncino, Italy - Catalogue
- June 2011 - Center Forward - The Denver International Airport - Denver, USA
- May 2011 - The Freedom to Create Prize Exhibition - The National Gallery of Zimbabwe - Harare, Zimbabwe - Catalogue
- March 2011 - Human + Being - The Center for Fine art Photography - Ft. Collins, USA
- March 2011 - The Renaissance Photography Prize Exhibition - The Mall Galleries - London, UK - Catalogue
- January 2011 - Blue - Juror's winner and Director's Honorabe Mention - The Center for Fine Art Photography - Ft. Collins, USA
2010
- November 2010 - The Freedom to Create Prize Exhibition - The Victoria and Albert Museum - London, UK - Catalogue
- June 2010 - Guest Artist - Basel Hot Art Fair - Basel, Switzerland - Catalogue
- October 2010 - Gallerie Forma D'Arte - Venice, Italy
- September 2010 - Arte Forte Art Fair - Forte dei Marmi, Italy
- July 2010 - Art Verona Art Fair - Verona, Italy
- May 2010 - Winner Chelsea Art Competition - Agora Gallery - New York City, USA - Catalogue
- May 2010 - Art Leagues Museum - California, USA
- March 2010 - Arte Padova Art Fair - Padova Italy
- February 2010 - The Freedom to Create Exhibition - The Queen's Complex in Bagh-e-Bagur - Kabul, Afghanistan - Catalogue
2009
- November 2009 - Finalist Celeste Exhibition - Alte AEG Fabrik - Berlin, Germany - Catalogue
- October 2009 - Space 4 Rent - Solo exhibition - NYArts Space - Beijing, China
- September 2009 - The Freedom to Create Exhibition - Ana Tzarev Gallery - New York City, USA - Catalogue
- July 2009 - Art Prize - Grand Rapids - USA
- June 2009 - The top 40 Digital Artists - LACDA Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts - USA
- March 2009 - The San Diego Art Fair - Sand Diego, USA
- February 2009 - Collaboration - Nes Gallery - Skagastrond, Iceland
- January 2009 - Self-Portraits - The Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn, USA - Catalogue
RECENT AWARDS
- 2018 - 2nd Place Winner - Documentary - The Independent Photographer
- 2018 - Winner - Royal Photographic Society - International Photography Exhibition 161- UK
- 2018 - Winner 3 awards - 11th Annual Pollux Awards - York, UK
- 2018 - Winner Photojournalism Honorable Mention - 11th International Color Awards - USA
- 2017 - 2nd Place Winner - Lucie Awards - 'Deeper Perspective' - New York, USA - Book
- 2017 - 1st Place Winner - International Fine Art Photography Award - Paris, France
- 2016 - PX3 Awards - Paris, France - Honorable Mentions - 'Confessions from the Still' and 'Pause'
- 2015 - Kontinent Awards – Finalist – Istanbul, Turkey
- 2014 - Aesthetica Art Prize - Top 100 Artists - Finalist - York, UK
- 2014 - Higly Commended Winner - London Photographic Association's Portraiture Award - UK
- 2012 – 2013 - Shortlisted Dubai Emerging Artist Award – Dubai, UAE
- 3rd Place – Nature Category – International Photography Awards – Los Angeles, USA
- 2013 Aesthetica Art Prize – Longlisted – York, UK
- 2013 Grand Prix de la Decouverte – Honorable Mention - Paris, France
- 2012 1st Place Winner August Edition Pollux Awards - York, UK
- 2012 Finalist – Terry O'Neill Awards – London, UK
- Shortlist 2011 International Celeste Prize - New York, USA
- Shortlist 2011 London International Creative Competition- London, UK
- 5 People's Choice Awards - PX3 Official Prix de la Photographie – Paris, France -Honorable Mention
- 2011 International Photography Awards - USA
- Finalist Galerie Huit Open Salon – Arles, France - Finalist
RECENT CATALOGUES / PUBLICATIONS
- 2019 – Alec Von Bargen ‘So.lil.o.quy' – Pacific Books – New York, USA
- 2018 – The Independent Photographer – Annual photobook
- 2017 - Lucie Awards 2017 book of photography - New York, USA
- 2017 – ICEVIEW Magazine – Volume 2 – Reykjavik, Iceland
- 2017 – ELLE, China – Alec Von Bargen - Split
- 2017 - The Royal College Of Surgeons - UK
- 2016 - The Solitary Body. The Self-Portrait in Contemporary Photography, Vol.II. By Giorgio Bonami - published by Rubbettino editore
- 2016 – ‘SPLIT' – Solo Exhibition Catalogue – SWATCH Museum – ShangHai, China
- 2016 – ‘Man, Forgotten' – Exhibition Catalogue – Milan, Italy
- 2015 - The Art Newspaper - Russia
- Marie Claire - Artists of the 56th Venice Biennale - Turkey
- VOGUE - Swatch Faces - 56th Venice Biennale - Portugal
- #4GetMeNot - Series of 4 books - Text by Diego Viapiana - Milan, Italy
- SWATCH - Faces and Traces - Exhibition Book - Biel, Switzerland
- 2014 - Aesthetica Magazine - Top 100 Contemporary Artists Special Edition - London, UK
- Rivista Arte Nuova Meta - 'Alec Von Bargen' - Critic Claudio Cerritelli - Milan, Italy
- 8X8 Magazine - 'Confessions from the Still' - Text by Marcello Grassi - Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Art Photo Mag - Special Edition - March 2014 'Alec Von Bargen- - Prague, Czech Republic
- 2013 - Alec Von Bargen - Veritas Feminae - Edizioni NeuDesign - Book - ISBN- 978-0-578-12860-3
- Irreversible Magazine - Cover and featured artist - Art Basel Special Edition - Miami, USA
- DOMUS Magazine - Little Victories - August 2013 Edition - Italy
- Dodho Photography Magazine - Alec Von Bargen - Barcelona, Spain
- Shanghai Daily - A Welcome Mat for Artists - July - Shanghai, China
- An Eye for an Ear - Book publication - Photography Open Salon Editions - Arles, France
- Aesthetica Magazine - Top 100 Contemporary Artists Special Edition - London, UK
- 2012 - Irreversible Magazine - Art Basel Miami Special Edition - Alec Von Bargen - Miami, USA
- Intenational Photography Awards Annual - Los Angeles, USA
- Transience - Exhibition Book - Photography Open Salon Editions - London, UK
- 2011 - International Celeste Prize Book - ZEL Edizioni - Milan, Italy
- Official 54th Venice Biennale Book - National Archives - Marsilio Edizioni - Venice, Italy
- PX3 Book - Paris, France
- London International Contemporary Photography Book - London, UK
- Art Fairs International - Von Bargen's Long Walk Home - May Issue - Hong Kong
- Rooms Art Uncovered - March Issue - Alec Von Bargen - London, UK
- 2010 - Hot Art Fair Catalogue - Basel Switzerland
- The Silent March - Exhibition Catalogue - Basel, Switzerland
- Chelsea International Art Competition Catalogue - Agaora Gallery - New York, USA
- Remedy Magazine - Alec Von Bargen's Horizontal Conversations - Issue 7 - June 2010 - London, UK
RESIDENCIES/FELLOWSHIPS
- September - October 2015 - Invited to return as guest artist to the SWATCH Art Peace Hotel - Shanghai, China
- Selected by Francois-Henri Pinault and the SWATCH group as guest artist at the SWATCH Art Peace Hotel - April - October 2013 - Shanghai, China
- Invited as guest artist to the College of Fine arts COFA at The University of New South Wales - January - March 2013 - Sydney, Australia
- Fellowship at the NYArts Magazine's NYArts Space October - November 2010 - Beijing, China
- NES Residency - September 2009 - Skagastrond, Iceland