Collection: UNBOXED

New works by Alex Johnmeyer

In his current body of work, “Unboxed,” Alex Johnmeyer reflects on his journey as a transgender man, using his childhood in the 1980s and 90s as a lens to explore themes of LGBTQ+ visibility and experience. Through a series of vibrant paintings, he captures fragmented memories of a past shaped by pop culture, self discovery, and the quiet challenges of growing up feeling different. 

Inspiration begins through the lens of his camera… whether capturing a fleeting moment or carefully orchestrating a composition. Every painting starts as a photograph and comes to life in oils, watercolors, or acrylics. During his time as a cake decorator in 1998, Alex developed skills that deeply influenced his approach to texture. To him, light modeling paste feels very much like frosting, and paper clay is similar to working with modeling chocolate—both require a gentle hand and a keen understanding of the medium, blending technical precision with creative expression. 

“Before I had the words to describe what I was feeling as a trans person, I felt reflected in my toys. I wanted to be Han Solo, not Princess Leia. I wanted to be Ken, not Barbie. The culture and toys we grow up with as children are a part of how we see ourselves.

I invite viewers to engage with their own nostalgia while considering themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the freedom of living openly and authentically. To me, art is more than just decoration… it is resistance, it is activism, and a declaration of existence.”

www.alexjohnmeyer.com

@superkeenalex