Artist Spotlight: Alexander Hodges

This month, we are celebrating the talented and charismatic artist, Alexander Hodges (or Al for short). His lifestyle itself is one of curiosity, experimentation, and creation. He is an artist and content creator who often paints on unconventional surfaces, using his imagination to give new life to old materials. Al’s art is his way of processing the world and staying connected to the things that matter most. He is an intelligent, funny, and relatable individual whose art reflects his bold opinions and beliefs, as well as a love for free expression.

Early Life

Al was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Kansas. He is the youngest of four siblings raised by his father, who is a lawyer, and his mother, who was an artist and teacher. He fondly reflects that both of his parents had a strong influence on who he is, the way he views the world, and his approach to creating things.

“I had a truly wonderful childhood and was lucky enough to travel extensively internationally from a young age. Those experiences shaped how I see the world, and they taught me the importance of multiculturalism, curiosity, and respect for others.” -Alexander Hodges

Utilizing his lived experience to influence his art is a major trait of Al’s. He has a rich education not only from studying history at the University of Kansas and later attending law school, but also from traveling and exploring. After his first college experience, he took a job as a waiter while figuring out his then‑uncertain path. He eventually applied for a job in Romania on a whim, where he lived in a rural village for about a year. He describes this period in his life as “one of the most formative and joyful.”

“Looking back, I can see how my upbringing, the risks I took, and even the missteps along the way all brought me here. I carry those experiences with me and draw from them every day in my art.” -Alexander Hodges

Al has a gift for compassion and a genuine desire to understand the people around him. History means more to him than a subject in class; it’s key to how he understands people, places, and stories. These qualities show up in his art and in the content he creates. He doesn’t see himself as an artist strictly by title, but rather as a creator who explores and learns from his surroundings in a way that makes art a natural outcome.

Favorite Medium

Spray paints and paint pens are Al’s go‑to for creating his masterpieces. These tools support his process perfectly because they give him the flexibility he wants. Their fast drying time lets him work in a natural, fluid way without needing to wait around between layers. He can move quickly and exist in the moment without anything slowing him down or leaving room to second‑guess what he's started. For Al, the act of creating is just as important as the final product. He doesn’t force his work to be tidy or perfect, which gives his ideas an unrestricted path from his brain to the surface he’s working on. The result is artwork that proudly wears Al’s creative energy and the process that went into making it.

The objects Al creates on are far cooler than traditional paper or canvas. He’s a curious guy who wants to understand how things work by taking apart, making, and fixing things, so it makes sense that his art lives on items people actually use every day. Instead of treating art as something too precious to touch, he intentionally works with materials that are meant to be handled, including skateboards, clothing, shoes, guitars, furniture and scrap wood. He describes the thrill of using items that already have their own history and how he enjoys materials that are “a little rough around the edges.”

“Creating isn’t confined to a studio or a single medium; it’s woven into how I move through the world. Whether I’m building something from scratch or learning how an object functions, it’s all driven by the same instinct: to engage with materials, to understand them, and to shape them with my hands.” -Alexander Hodges

Works

Al has an impressive ability to render the likeness of people as well as come up with exciting depictions of monsters and animals with backgrounds of vibrant colors and patterns. He allows himself to explore both serious and unserious topics in his work whenever he likes.

His art has a meaningful impact that attracts people from many different walks of life, but he also recognizes that not everyone has the same taste and that’s perfectly okay. He believes art is fundamental in our society regardless and uses it to educate and connect with others.

“It crosses boundaries and connects people in ways that don’t always rely on language. Not every piece of art will speak to everyone, and that’s okay. It still matters because it reflects the artist’s point of view and the moment in society it comes from. Art often says things words can’t. It can reveal truths, spark conversations, and sometimes inspire action. Even when it’s unclear or open to interpretation, its presence adds something meaningful to a community’s emotional and cultural life. Most art comes from something deeply personal—joy, grief, curiosity, protest, or wonder.” -Alexander Hodges

His portraits include historical figures, pop culture icons, family, and self‑portraits. He states that he paints “both awful and inspirational people.” If you’ve ever stumbled across his TikTok page, you’ll see that advocacy is a strong part of his messaging. He paints powerful real‑life heroes such as political activists and leaders who stand up for justice.

“[...] I especially enjoy doing self‑portraits because I think I'm beautiful and a little cocky. Moreover, painting my wife is just as important to me. Those pieces come from a place of love and familiarity, and they let me slow down and really look at someone who means everything to me.” -Alexander Hodges

Al manages to keep his style strong and recognizable while not limiting himself to one thing. In addition to real people, he also makes a ton of cool monsters. These are fun subjects for him because, in his words, they “don’t have to follow the rules.” He uses monsters to experiment, stating: “[...] they let me explore heavier ideas in a way that’s still approachable and fun.”

Creative Environment

While Al feels most himself when he’s creating art, he also owns and runs his own legal practice. Art is such an integral part of his life that he makes sure to give himself everything he needs to stay consistent alongside the demands of family and professional life. To do this, he has developed a system for himself which includes a social media schedule and a designated workshop in the garage where he can focus uninterrupted and be free to create as chaotically as he’d like!

A major part of his success comes from his ability to communicate his needs with the people closest to him. His wife understands how important his solitude is because early on he was honest about needing his own time and space for art.

“That openness made it possible for me to build a rhythm that allows creativity to exist alongside the rest of my life.” -Alexander Hodges

He extends this advice to others: “One thing that really matters, and doesn’t get talked about enough, is being honest with the people closest to you. When you meet your future partner, let them know that you’ll need time and space to create.” -Alexander Hodges

When it comes to social media, his schedule keeps him structured and consistent while helping him avoid burnout. Like many artists, some days he’s in full creation mode, and other days he isn’t in the mood to make anything at all. Having a predetermined plan gives him room to create with low pressure. He’s had a lot of success posting videos on themed days including Monster Monday and Skateboard Friday.

Words of Wisdom

“The best advice I could give is to just create all the time. Make everything you can, it doesn't have to be good, you don't even need to like it, just make it. Art doesn’t need to be justified, it just needs to exist. You’ll figure out what you’re trying to say while you’re struggling to say it, and that’s part of the process. Have fun with it. Forget the ‘rules’ you’ve been taught, there really aren’t any. Don’t chase perfection; let the mistakes happen and pay attention to what they’re showing you, because that’s often where the best ideas come from.” -Alexander Hodges

Keep up with this amazing artist here

Al is currently hard at work making items available for purchase so everyone can have and enjoy his art. Some cool stuff he has in store are prints, merch, original artworks, and more! He hopes to set up his own website in the near future. For now, be sure to follow him on TikTok to experience his cool Monster Monday and Skateboard Friday videos plus all of his other fun and engaging content.

TikTok:  @Art.History.by.AL

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If you have a story to share or would like to nominate an artist you admire for an upcoming Artist of the Month Spotlight, send your inquiry to Quil Castro via email: bewilderingwalls@gmail.com