Alex Da Corte
Alex Da Corte (b. 1980) is a Philadelphia-based multidisciplinary artist known for his pop-informed sensibility and embrace of theatricality. In his elaborate, surreal set pieces, banal objects and consumer goods serve as both actors and props. His campy détournements, staged in immersive environments, make these familiar references strange. Da Corte’s videos, sculptures, paintings, and installations ruminate on personal and cultural politics, alienation, and the complexities of the human experience. Da Corte was included in La Biennale di Venezia 2019, curated by Ralph Rugoff. He also participated in the 57th Carnegie International, curated by Ingrid Schaffner. Da Corte’s first survey exhibition Free Roses was held at MASS MoCA, North Adams in 2016. Other recent solo exhibitions include Karma, New York (2019); Secession Building, Vienna, Austria (2017); Maccarone Gallery, New York (2016); the Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Denmark (2017); and Art + Practice, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2016).
Photo: Sam Monkarsh
Born 1980, Camden, New Jersey
Lives and works in Philadelphia
EDUCATION
2010
MFA, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
2004
BFA, Printmaking/Fine Arts, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia
2001
Film/Animation and Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, New York
1999
Barnstone Studios, Copley, Pennsylvania
1998
Camden County College, Blackwood, New Jersey
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
Karma, New York, Marigolds
2018
Kölnisher Kunsterveien, Cologne, THE SUPERMAN
Karma, New York, C-A-T Spells Murder
Josh Lilley Gallery, London, BAD LAND
2017
Secession, Vienna, Slow Graffiti
Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Herning, Denmark, 50 Wigs
Mass MoCA, North Adams, Massachusetts, Free Roses
2016
Maccarone Gallery, New York, A Man Full of Trouble
Art + Practice, Los Angeles, A Season In He’ll
2015
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Le Miroir Vivant
Gio Marconi, Milan, Devil Town
Luxembourg & Dayan, New York, Die Hexe
2014
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Easternsports; with Jayson Musson
Carl Koystál, Stockholm, A Night In Hell
David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen, Delirium I
White Cube, London, England, White Rain
2013
Joe Sheftl Gallery, New York, 1 O O O I S L A N D
Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine
ARTSPEAK, Vancouver, Canada, BACON BREAST
Wake, Detroit, Michigan, CAR WHORE
Nudashank, Baltimore, Dead Zone
2012
Mallorca Landings, Mallorca, Spain, Gentle Pain
Still House, New York, Magic Stick
Joe Sheftel , New York, Candy Rain
Galerie Olivier Robert, Paris, Night Chat
2011
Bodega/Extra Extra , Philadelphia, The Island Beautiful/Mortal Mirror
2010
Yale Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut, The Kind of Dog that Keeps You Waiting
2009
Golden Age, Chicago, Activity #91
La Montagne Gallery, Boston, Casual Luxury
2007
Parisian Laundry, Montreal, I Think About You All The Time
Stonefox Art Space, New York, I Attach Myself to You
2006
Space 1026, Philadelphia, Help Yourself to Roses
2005
Black Floor Gallery, Philadelphia, Welcome Your Sorrows
The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, The Death of All Things Beautiful
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, For a Dreamer of Houses
2019
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US: Ancient History of the Distant Future
The 58th Venice Biennale, May You Live in Interesting Times; curated by Ralph Rugoff
Rodeo, London, Dracula’s Wedding
Sadie Coles HQ, London, My Head is a Haunted House
Treignac Projet, Treignac, France, Garland
2018
The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 57th Carnegie International
David Zwirner, New York, This Is Not a Prop
Musée d’art contemporain, Lyon, France, Collections
Reyes Projects, Birmingham, Michigan, Soft Focus
2017
Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York, Cells
Carl Kostyál, Stockholm, Summer Show
The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Dreamlands: Immersive Film and Cinema Since 1905
2016
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark, Illumination
Peres Projects, Berlin, Wild Style: Exhibition of Figurative Art
Patrick Seguin, Paris, Pièces-Meublés
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark, Fire Under Snow
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, Georgia, The 5th of July
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark, Illumination
2015
Maccarone, New York, Bonsai #5
Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, Lyon, France, Taut Eye Tau
2014
Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, Slip
Loyal, New York, Border Food
Higher Pictures, New York, The New Beauty of Our Modern Life
American Contemporary, New York, Cardboard Lover
2013
Fjord, Philadelphia, Body Without Organs; with Sean Fitzgerald
OKO Gallery, New York, As Is Wet Hoagie
2012
David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen, Painting Without Paint
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Montreal, New Skin For The Old Ceremony
Joe Sheftel Gallery, New York, Specifically Yours
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, First Among Equals
2011
Jolie Laide Gallery, Philadelphia, BLEACH
Team Gallery, New York, Re: Empire
Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery, New York, Spirit of the Signal
Cleopatra’s, Brooklyn, The Unlimited Plan (with Kate Levant)
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, That’s How We Escaped: Reflections on Warhol
Museum of Modern Art, New York, New Skin for the Old Ceremony
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, ICA Open Video Call Exhibition
Texas State University Gallery, San Marcos, Texas, SubStainability
2010
Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri, Cellar Door: Front Room Series
Yvon Lambert, New York, Christmas in July
2009
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, Rich Text
PS1 MoMA, New York, Between Spaces
2008
Asia Song Society, New York, I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, Love Explosion
Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, 2000 Years of Sculpture
Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, Philadelphia, L’Autre
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, This Is This
2006
The Warehouse Gallery, Syracuse, New York, Faux Naturel
2005
Nexus Gallery, Philadelphia, Nexus Selects
Whittier College, Whittier, California, Turning Pages
2003
Gallery One, The University of The Arts, Philadelphia, Red
AWARDS
Pew Fellowship in the Arts
Ted Carey Award
Eisman Travel Scholarship
RESIDENCIES
Fabric Workshop & Museum Apprenticeship, Philadelphia
University Of The Arts Residency Program, Philadelphia
Smith College Artist In Residence Program, Northampton, Massachusetts
COLLECTIONS
Aïshti Foundation, Antelias, Lebanon
Dallas Museum of Art, Texas
Fondazione Prada, Milan
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark
Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles
Moderna Museet, Stockholm
Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, Lyon, France
TPG/P&A, Philadelphia
The West Collection, Philadelphia
The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Publications
2019
Marigolds
Karma, New York
40 pages, softcover
9 1/2 × 11 3/4 inches
Edition of 750
Rubber Pencil Devil
Karma, New York
168 pages
5 1/2 × 4 1/4 inches
Edition of 500
2018
C-A-T Spells Murder
Edited By Alex Da Corte and Sam McKinniss
Karma, New York
272 Pages, Softcover
9 1/8 × 6 1/2inches
2016
Alex Da Corte, A Man Full Of Trouble
Karma, New York
338 pages
11 × 8 1/4 inches
Alex Da Corte & Jayson Musson, Easternsports
Karma/ICA Philadelphia, New York
288 pages
8 1/4 × 6 inches
