Alex Israel, a highly acclaimed conceptual artist from Los Angeles, is known for his unique take on Hollywood’s celebrity culture. In his upcoming exhibition in Aspen, set to open on February 15, Israel delves into the theme of collective mourning in the age of social media.
The exhibition, titled “Heaven,” focuses on the grief and resurrection of notable figures who have passed away since the rise of Instagram. Icons such as David Bowie, Betty White, Chadwick Boseman, Karl Lagerfeld, Kobe Bryant, and Dr. Ruth are depicted in a photorealistic manner on lightweight aluminum sheets, reminiscent of cardboard cutout stand-ups in a movie theater lobby.
Israel explains that the exhibition explores the modern phenomenon of tributes and photos flooding social media feeds when a beloved cultural figure dies. The immersive experience, created in collaboration with Warner Bros. Design Studio, serves as a powerful reflection of collective memory.
The exhibition space, designed to mimic the gates of St. Peter, is located in a vacant restaurant along a ski run on Aspen Mountain. Daniel Merritt, the chief curator of the Aspen Art Museum, describes the location as an ethereal setting overlooking the Earth, adding to the emotional impact of the project.
“Heaven” also pays homage to the iconic boutique, Heaven, that was popular in the ’80s at the Century City Mall. Israel’s exhibition aims to revive the spirit of the beloved brand and the abandoned building, while also showcasing his Noir series of urban landscape paintings at Gagosian’s Beverly Hills gallery.
Israel expresses difficulty in concluding the production process, noting that figures like David Lynch and Shannen Doherty, who passed away recently, would have been ideal additions to the exhibition. He reflects on the idea of bringing together departed stars like Shannen Doherty and Luke Perry in Heaven.
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