Interview with Alex Hall, Resident Photographer at Gonzo’s Jan 18-31
Yesterday, Gonzo’s announced Alex Hall as their first-ever resident photographer! She will be part of Gonzo’s Artist in Residence series, featuring a new visual and musical artist every month available for a session at the space.
For those dedicated readers, you might recognize Alex’s work from our recent Photo Diary of Ice Age. Alt Citizen has long admired Alex’s work for her ability to capture the mysteriousness, rebellion and rawness of New York’s fashion and music scene. Her style distinctively brings together the gritty with the ethereal, embodying also the spirit of Alt Citizen.
Her work will be on display at Gonzo’s from Jan 18-31, and there will also be an opening reception for the exhibition on the 18th from 7-10pm. We hope to see you all there too!
For more information on how to book a photo session for your band photos or artist portraits with Alex during her residency at Gonzo’s, click here.
We actually ran into Alex at Gonzo’s and had the chance to interview her about her photography journey.
Thanks for sitting down with us Alex! Can you tell us a bit about your first exposure to the music / fashion world?
Well my dad was a drummer in a few bands and when we were kids he would take me to St. Marks and show me all the fun stores. He was really into punk music, the Rolling Stones, stuff like that. There was always music in the house.
I think also seeing my Dad’s fashion sense, it really ties into what I do now. He had the coolest style- think like crop tops, tight bootcut pants, you name it. In the late 70s, it was Bowie glam, so he would wear platforms. But then when he got into punk he started wearing Perfectos with like a bunch of pins and was really into that. So that was really just like my upbringing and exposure to creativity.
Tell me about younger Alex, what were you doing pre-photography?
Well I wanted to be an artist, I liked to sketch and loved fashion so as I got older I tried to do fashion design and illustration, but then I ditched that because I hate sewing! And I wanted to be a photographer but I could never afford a camera. So it wasn’t until the pandemic when we got those stimulus checks that I was like “oh wait I have money now to buy a camera!”
So I got my first film camera and started taking photos of my dog, which reminds me of my favorite photographer Peter Hujar, who has this dog series where he puts dogs in photoshoot settings. And then I moved to Brooklyn right after the pandemic and I didn’t know anyone, and didn’t know what to do. But this musician DM’d me on Instagram and was like “oh we should take pictures” and it was like this ripple effect. It just started elevating over time and I’ve been doing it for four years now.
Was there a moment where you felt like “this what I’m meant to do and I should stick with this?”
It just felt so natural. I think being surrounded by photographers in the fashion world, you don’t even realize but you’re understanding imagery to some degree. So I think it’s that on top of just having an eye for it. If you have an eye for it, then you can develop the skills to make it happen.
Do you feel that fashion still plays a role in your work?
There definitely is a fashion element to my photography. I think coming from a styling background, even when I shoot, I need people to be stylized. It’s also a form of expression because when you’re on set and have clients that are like “we want this image” and “this is our vision, this is what we want,” you don’t really get too much creativity in it. So this was a way I could still express myself- in styling, in photo, in composition. Sometimes people look at images and they’re just looking at the clothes or looking at the talent only, and I think it’s all about the end-all thing.
Is there one photo of yours that stands out from the others as your favorite?
A lot of people say that their favorite photo I’ve ever shot is the one I took of Malice K. I shot this one in my dingy apartment. Someone sent me his story where he posted something like “I need a photographer” and my friend was like “you should totally take his picture!” It was actually like my first paid job, and he came over and we just shot. He was really cool and interesting and it was a good time!
Do you remember what you did with your first paid check?
Probably spent it at the bar with him afterwards haha! We went to my friend’s show. It was so funny. And taking his picture I was like wow this person is going to go places I can just feel the energy.
If you need us, we’ll be at the bar with Alex at her reception January 18th. Hope to see you there! <3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sex Drugs and Alex Hall
A solo exhibition featuring new work by Alex Hall
Exhibition Dates: Jan 18 – Jan 31
Opening Reception: Jan 18, 7-10 PM
6 St Marks Place, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003
New York, NY [Jan 18, 2024] – Gonzos is pleased to unveil their new Artist in Residence series, kicking off with “Sex Drugs and Alex Hall” a photo exhibition by NYC-based photographer and stylist Alex Hall. Hall’s portraits are reflective of her experiences growing up in NYC, spending her weekends on Saint Marks with the city’s artists, musicians, and junkies.
“Sex Drugs and Alex Hall” will be on view at Gonzo’s Jan 18-31. Opening Reception will be held on Jan 18th from 7-10 PM. Book Alex Hall to shoot your band photos and artist portraits during her Gonzo’s residency.
Nasa Hadizadeh
Programming Director | Gonzos
(p) 347-981-4687 (e) nasa.mgmt1@gmail.com
