Alexandra Antoine
Alexandra Antoine Member Feature
Alexandra Antoine is an interdisciplinary visual artist and cultural apprentice based in Chicago, IL. Her work acknowledges the influences of her Haitian culture and interest in portraiture, food, farming, and the physical labor that goes into traditional artistic practices of the Afrikan diaspora. She honors her ancestors always and is currently growing food in several community gardens on the West side of Chicago!
She received an undergraduate degree from a fancy art school and exhibited her work in many places but collaborating with folks throughout the Afrikan diaspora is her life’s work.
Hibiscus, screenprint, 12.5″ x 19″, 2024
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: a Q & A with Alexandra Antoine
How long have you been at CPC?
I’ve been a member of CPC since 2023.
What’s your favorite type of printmaking?
Lithography, hands down, will always be my favorite printmaking process.
Why do you make art?
I create art because I know for a fact that’s what I came here to do! I create because our world needs more storytellers, more color and more joy!
What other media do you enjoy working in?
Lately I’ve loved getting back into screenprinting because of it allows me to make quick multiples of all these ideas I’ve been having. Food has been my other favorite medium, specifically seeds and harvesting plants from my garden, which has been inspiring my screenprinting designs.
What direction are you planning to go in the coming year with your work?
I’ll be creating a small series of prints on several of the crops I grew this past summer and their medicinal benefits. I’ll be incorporating some mixed-media layers on top of the screenprints.
What book are you reading currently?
I just finished “Welcoming the Unwelcome” by Pema Chodron, whose been a teaching guide for me this past year and this book is incredible. Next up is “Ingredient” by Ali Bouzari which I’m really excited about.
What is your favorite non-art distraction?
Vinyls! I just got a record player and oh man, now I truly understand the love folks have for vinyls. Like I knew they were cool but I am a bit obsessed now! Samara Joy’s album “Linger Awhile” has been playing my my record player ever since!
Who are 3 artists (dead or alive) that inspire you?
Delita Martin (Printmaker/Founder of Black Box Press Studio, Felicia Pride (Writer/Director and Filmmaker) and Malene Barnett (Ceramicist/Designer and Author of the newly published book “Crafted Kinship”)
Who is your favorite printmaker?
I don’t have a favorite because I truly love a lot of them, but Charles White is definitely in my Top 5.
What was the last gift you gave someone?
A package that contained one of my new “Hibiscus” screenprints, a small package of seeds that I seed saved from the Sorrel plant in my garden this past summer and a beautiful postcard with a lovely message for them.
What’s your favorite thing about CPC?
Being able to have a space to do my printing that’s always clean, well lit and comfortable.
You can contact Alexandra for more information by visiting her website and Instagram. Read other Member Spotlight interviews here.
Our Plates, letterpress, 9.5″ x 12.5″, 2022
Black Eye Pea, screenprint, collage, and hand-sewn bead sequence, 12.5″ x 19″, 2021