Written by Lucia Winkler
Since his childhood, Alex Lanier's art has been immersed in unbound imagination. Though his apparatus started off simple - the ink pens he found in junk drawers - the worlds he drew were limitless.
Now, Lanier's lifelong creativity is displayed at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (AGB). Titled "Imaginations: The Adventures of 'boxboy Jr.' and the Art of Alex Lanier", the exhibit series follows the explorations of a character reviving the artist's younger self.
As a kid, Lanier would collect cardboard boxes from around his home. These household objects would be constructed into makeshift structures he envisioned as spaceships and castles.
After becoming a father, Lanier thought back to a time of ink pens and artistic adventures. "I was inspired by my son to illustrate this important phase of my childhood," Lanier commented. Thus came about boxboy Jr., an Afro-Cuban kid whose cardboard box transported him to fantasy lands. His series is ongoing, and will be featured at the AGB through mid-April.
The curated room is painted in a tangerine color that brings out the vibrancy of the art. Panels of 2D art wrap around the three predominant walls that may be observed from centered benches. The style is unmatched by any contemporary counterpart, marked by thin line art that evokes the feel of an ink pen. The worldbuilding of the series remains constant throughout each panel, with gradient skies and cyan waters. Yet each artwork tells a different story, whether it's of boxboy Jr.'s sailing trip or journey to a futuristic city. There are also two 3D works, encased in the middle of the room, and an animation in a separate room.
Lanier works locally, residing in Miami, and has submitted work to Mayfaire by-the-Lake and similar arts spotlights. He will be visiting Lakeland for the AGB's "Evening With the Artist" event on Jan. 14. Those who RSVP will have the opportunity to hear the artist discuss his work in-depth, and enjoy a following reception. The evening will last from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
"Imaginations" is an exhibit that brings out the childlike dreams that have gotten lost in the busyness of life. Lanier encourages his audience to dust off the cardboard boxes of their own youths, and explore their creative sides once again.
