Alex Ebstein lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland and is co-director of Nudashank. Her work has been exhibited throughout the East Coast.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do. I am an artist, curator and writer in Baltimore, Maryland. I co-founded and direct Nudashank along with Seth Adelsberger. We’ve been running the gallery for 3 years in March. I write art reviews for the local alternative weekly paper, and am a contributor to the New American Paintings blog. I also walk dogs 4 – 5 days a week to pay all the bills.
If you had to explain your work to a stranger, what would you say? I make mostly 2D work. Lately I have been working on abstractions with string, yarn, acrylic and enamel, sometimes using found objects and wax.
What kinds of things are influencing your work right now? Limitations of space and time, and an accumulation of scrap craft and building materials, the internet, peers, and a slight satisfaction in compulsive and repetitious actions.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why? This week? Miami, because it will be the first time in 4 years that I have missed the fairs!
What artists are you interested in right now? Hermonie Only, Seth Adelsberger, Ted Gahl, Sam Falls, Conor Backman, Caitlin Cunningham, Jordan Bernier, Tracy Thomason, Bettina Yung, John Bohl, Andrew Guenther, Noam Rappaport, Jimmy Joe Roche, Dianna Molzan, Brian Bress, Leif Parsons, Amanda Ross-Ho, Tauba Auerbach, Mark Hagen, Matt Connors, Zach Stadel, Win McCarthy, Steven Riddle, Lesser Gonzalez, Maria Walker.
What was the last exhibition you saw that stuck out to you? Sarah Braman’s Yours at Mitchell-Innes and Nash is stunning. My favorite show I saw this month.
How long have you lived in Baltimore and what brought you there? I have been living in Baltimore since 2003, when I moved from Connecticut to attend college. When I graduated in 2007, I briefly lived in Brooklyn, working as a photo intern at TV Guide and then as art assistant at Lucky Magazine. They were both really fun jobs, but didn’t leave me a lot of time to make work. I moved back to Baltimore before the year was out.
What’s your favorite thing about Baltimore? An active, serious art community that is innovative, encouraging and continues to create opportunities to showcase local talent.
What Are You Really Excited About Right Now? In April, we’re (Nudashank) going to work with Western Exhibitions to put on a solo show for Geoffrey Todd Smith, who’s work I have been a fan of for a long time, and a cross-program group show during the Baltimore Print Fair! So exciting! Chicago and Baltimore should merge. Also, changing up our pace at the gallery with a string of solo shows: Ryan Lauderdale, Jordan Bernier, and Gina Beavers!
What do you do when you’re not working on art? Aside from the gallery and assorted freelance jobs, I really love to cook.