Painter and sculptor Alexander Mijares is firmly established among South Florida’s top artistic talents. The self-taught, Miami-born artist has created custom pieces for the likes of Justin Bieber, Pharrell, Tori Kelly and Alejandro Sanz, using his Cuban and Spanish heritage as inspiration. Here, Mijares opens up about the message and process behind his new ballerina-inspired “Backstage” collection.
“From an early age, I was exposed to ballet. My mother would bring me to the studio and I would sit and watch in awe as the dancers practiced for hours upon hours. I was taken by the beauty of the female body, the movements, balance, and more than anything, the commitment it takes to be a successful ballerina.”
“I also saw the frustration, tears, anxiety, joy and many other emotions that are displayed backstage. Thinking back on this time, I had a need to get this collection out of my system. ‘Backstage’ is a celebration of women, their strength, perseverance, and beauty.”
“While creating this collection and sculpture, many thoughts and emotions ran through my head. One recurring theme was how ‘Backstage’ has a parallel to the social media era we are living in today. Just like the ballerinas who hide the pain, anxiety, and tears on stage, many people portray a perfect life on social media, but behind closed doors, are dealing with life’s issues.”
“Working on this series reinforced the idea of hard work and dedication. It is also a constant reminder to spread love and be there for the ones you love, as you don’t always know what’s going on backstage.”
Check out the “Backstage” collection at Mijares’s Miami gallery. For more of his work, visit his website and follow him on Instagram. Here’s a sampling: