History of Alexandra Grant in Timeline
Alexandra Grant is an American visual artist known for her work that explores language and written texts through various media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and video. Her art often draws inspiration from linguistic theory, the writing process, and collaborations with writers. Based in Los Angeles, Grant creates visual images and collaborative installations that reflect her examination of language and its connection to art.
1969: Father moves to Oberlin College
In 1969, Alexandra Grant's father, a Scottish geology professor, moved to Oberlin College in Ohio.
April 4, 1973: Alexandra Grant's Birth
On April 4, 1973, Alexandra Grant was born in Fairview Park, Ohio. She is an American visual artist known for her work that examines language and written texts.
1995: Graduation from Swarthmore College
In 1995, Alexandra Grant graduated from Swarthmore College with a BA in history and studio art.
2000: Graduation from California College of the Arts
In 2000, Alexandra Grant graduated from California College of the Arts in San Francisco with an MFA in drawing and painting.
2007: First Solo Exhibition at MOCA
In 2007, Alexandra Grant had her first solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, curated by Alma Ruiz. The catalog featured large-scale works on paper and essays.
2007: "Ladder Quartet" shown at MOCA
In 2007, the "Ladder Quartet", a series of Alexandra Grant's paintings and sculptures based on Michael Joyce's texts, was shown at MOCA.
2008: Participation in Watts House Project
In 2008, Alexandra Grant participated in Edgar Arceneaux’s Watts House Project, a non profit group in Los Angeles, with the initial plan to build a large construction of her brands’ logo (LOVE) over a house. Due to a dispute, the project has been prevented from coming to fruition. Grant resigned from the project's board but is still raising funds in order to complete the “Love House”.
2008: "From and About Place: Art from Los Angeles" show
In 2008, Alexandra Grant's artworks were featured in a multi-artist show in Tel Aviv, titled "From and About Place: Art from Los Angeles".
2008: "Six Portals" shown at Honor Fraser gallery
In 2008, the "Six Portals", a series of Alexandra Grant's paintings and sculptures based on Michael Joyce's texts, was shown at Honor Fraser gallery.
2009: Adjunct Professor at Art Center College of Design
From 2009, Alexandra Grant was an adjunct professor at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.
2009: Meeting Keanu Reeves
In 2009, Alexandra Grant met actor Keanu Reeves at a social event.
2010: MFA seminar at Cal State Northridge
In 2010, Alexandra Grant taught an MFA seminar at Cal State Northridge.
2010: "Bodies" shown at Honor Fraser gallery
In 2010, the "Bodies", a series of Alexandra Grant's paintings and sculptures based on Michael Joyce's texts, was shown at Honor Fraser gallery.
2011: Publication of "Ode to Happiness"
In early 2011, Alexandra Grant's first collaboration with Keanu Reeves, Ode to Happiness, was published by Gerhard Steidl. This was Grant's first artist book and Reeves's first book as a writer.
2011: Adjunct Professor at Art Center College of Design
Until 2011, Alexandra Grant was an adjunct professor at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.
2013: Mentor in Pacific Northwest College of Art's Distance MFA program
From 2013, Alexandra Grant was a mentor in the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Distance MFA program.
2013: Collaboration on Exhibitions with Hélène Cixous
In 2013, Alexandra Grant collaborated with Hélène Cixous on twin series of exhibitions based on Cixous's book Philippines, called "Forêt Intérieure/Interior Forest" at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica and at Mains d’Oeuvres in Saint-Ouen, France. Participants joined Grant in creating large-scale drawings of Cixous's novel.
2013: "Drawn to Language" Exhibition
In 2013, Alexandra Grant continued her work in the series called “Century of the Self” with the first exhibition being “Drawn to Language" at USC's The Fisher Museum.
2014: Exhibition at Lora Reynold's Gallery
In 2014, Alexandra Grant's "Century of the Self" series was exhibited at Lora Reynold's Gallery in Austin, TX.
2014: Mentor in Pacific Northwest College of Art's Distance MFA program
Until 2014, Alexandra Grant was a mentor in the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Distance MFA program.
2015: Exhibition of "Antigone 3000" and COLA Award
In 2015, Alexandra Grant exhibited her work in a painting called “Antigone 3000” inspired by the Greek myth, and won the City of Los Angeles Mid-Career Artist Award (COLA).
2015: MFA program mentor at Syracuse University
In 2015, Alexandra Grant was an MFA program mentor at Syracuse University and co-taught a course at Ashesi University in Accra, Ghana.
2015: "We Must Risk Delight: 20 Artists from Los Angeles" at Venice Biennial
In 2015, Alexandra Grant's "Century of the Self" series was exhibited at the Venice Biennial in an exhibition called “We Must Risk Delight: 20 Artists from Los Angeles”.
2015: Directed "Taking Lena Home" documentary
In 2015, as part of a residency at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Nebraska, Alexandra Grant directed a documentary film called Taking Lena Home, about returning a stolen tombstone to rural Nebraska.
June 2016: Attended UNAIDS gala in Switzerland as a couple
In June 2016, Alexandra Grant and Keanu Reeves were photographed as a couple in Switzerland attending the UNAIDS gala.
2016: Conversation at Nottingham Contemporary
In 2016, Alexandra Grant and Hélène Cixous spoke about their telepathic relationship as part of a conversation from Mains d’Oeuvres to Nottingham Contemporary.
2016: Second Collaboration with Keanu Reeves: "Shadows"
In 2016, Alexandra Grant and Keanu Reeves reunited for their second collaboration, Shadows, a book and suite of photographic images printed by Steidl in Germany. The photographs were exhibited at ACME Gallery in Los Angeles, and Ochi Gallery in Sun Valley, ID. Grant also collaborated with artist Alia Raza for Issue magazine.
2017: "Antigone is me" exhibit
In 2017, Alexandra Grant wrote the text for "Antigone is me" with her sister, Florence Grant, to capture the ancient Greek myth Antigone in a contemporary scene. The exhibit was a community-based project installation held at The Eastern Star Gallery at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles.
2017: "L.A. Exuberance: Recent Gifts by Artists" at LACMA
In 2017, Alexandra Grant's works from Antigone 3000 were shown at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) as part of the exhibition “L.A. Exuberance: Recent Gifts by Artists.”
2017: Establishment of X Artists Books
In 2017, Alexandra Grant, along with designer Jessica Fleischmann and Keanu Reeves, established a small publishing company called X Artists Books (XAB).
November 2019: Public Appearance as a Couple at LACMA Gala
In November 2019, Alexandra Grant and Keanu Reeves appeared as a couple on the red carpet of the LACMA Art + Film Gala, prompting media coverage of their romantic relationship.
