Through exploration of Catholic iconography, queer history, and self image, my work seeks to reconcile religious and childhood trauma. Having distanced myself from organized religion, I've been on a years-long journey to cultivate a spirituality that revolves around my own selfhood. This exploration has materialized in my recent artwork, where I delve into the intersection of sexuality and the residual effects of religious guilt. Recognizing how queer affinity can serve as a conduit for spirituality and a catalyst for creative expression, I’ve forged intimate and platonic relationships with the people in my community. The confidence, compassion, and connection I have received through these bonds have unearthed facets of myself that were previously buried beneath years of shame. Embracing a new, confident identity as a sacred slut, I've found a sense of holiness and purpose that my Catholic upbringing failed to instill. Articulating this revelation through my interdisciplinary work has not only provided me with a unique, other spirituality but has also allowed me to dedicate my creative pursuits to self-discovery and the higher powers inherent in my synthesized cult of self.
Originally hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Alex Blom’s studio practice centers on his queerness and spirituality. Blom’s interdisciplinary work amalgamates deeply personal color palettes, self-image, art historical references, and LGBTQ cultural phenomenons to explore ideas that were deemed taboo in his childhood. By inserting himself and his ideologies into appropriated Catholic images and environments, he creates a cult of self whereby he can claim the symbology, characters, and motifs of the Catholic tradition.
Blom holds a BA in Studio Art with minors in Art History and Business Administration from the University of Denver (‘23). During his time at DU, he was also four-year NCAA Division I swimmer. After graduation, Blom served on the Media and Marketing Committee for Mo’Print Colorado and completed the Create Award Residency at Art Gym Denver. His work has been included in exhibitions across Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, and Illinois.Beginning in August of 2024, he will begin pursuing a MFA in Printmedia at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.