Visual Artist Alex Bartleet

From Auckland to London with art

The drive to make art has been unshakeable for self-employed visual artist Alex Bartleet, despite forays into advertising. Currently Alex is in London working as an art technician hanging exhibitions that include Andy Warhol, Picasso and Mattisse, while also working on his own art. And he's loving it. Here's a peek into his life.

I create sculptures and installation works using a large range of materials including familiar functional objects, which are re-contextualised as artworks.

I use the method of research through making - a method that has become a successful tool in researching and developing ideas and generating new understandings of the world.

It can take 6-10 months to prepare enough work and supporting material for a solo exhibition.

When I’m working on my art, I break my studio time into administration and making days (studio time). Administration includes exploring new opportunities for exhibitions, residencies and awards. Studio time is spent making artworks, buying materials and supplies and other exhibition preparation/installation tasks.

Depending on what exhibitions I have coming up in the year I also look for freelance contract jobs to sustain an income between exhibitions.

These jobs could include art tutoring, graphic and web design work, events based installations, arts festivals and exhibitions. This kind of work has quite flexible hours which makes them ideal job s to do  around my art practice.

London OE

Right now I’m  in London where I’m researching and working on generating a body of work to exhibit as part of a solo exhibition on my return to New Zealand.

I'm also working as an art technician for Halcyon Gallery, a high end art gallery in the centre of London. I am responsible for hanging exhibitions in the gallery as well as buyers’ private homes in UK and abroad.

I have been handling and hanging hundreds of amazing artworks by many Masters artists including Andy Warhol. Picasso, Matisse, Rodin, Renoir, Juan Miro and Monet. It is all very exciting stuff.

All consuming

I find self motivation a big challenge as a solo artist. While I have peers and mentors to confide in and get advice from, most of the working week I spend by myself. So I find I work best when I set up a routine of some sort so I don’t miss deadlines.

Preparation for an exhibition can be stressful at times but once I have a deadline I get motivated and that is when I generate a lot of work. As an artist you have to be prepared for a few late nights and some physically draining days, but this all adds to the excitement of having an exhibition opening and celebrating at the end of it all.

It is very satisfying when the work pays off - I’ve won a couple of emerging artist awards which have had cash prizes. This really boosted my confidence in my art practice.

I am currently planning a solo exhibition at The Pah Homestead in Auckland in 2018 when I return to New Zealand.

I am also pursuing several residency opportunities in Europe leading up to that exhibition.

In the long term, I intend to continue my research and art practice, exploring new opportunities as they arise. I have always been a visual person and feel I communicate best through art.

If you want to find out more about what is involved in visual arts as a career, read Future Careers in Visual Arts..