My work investigates the complex intersections of race, gender, and geography through the lens of American cultural narratives—particularly those embedded in sports and collective memory. Using painting, photography, collage, and video, I decode the visual and linguistic systems that shape how we understand identity and belonging.

Growing up in the Midwest—a landscape defined by industrial legacy and racial tension—provided my first lessons in how place shapes perspective. This foundation now informs my practice from Brooklyn, where I witness New York's promise of a global community colliding with the reality of individuals struggling to locate themselves within it. This tension drives my exploration across diverse geographies, examining how minority communities navigate and transform the spaces they inhabit.

My interdisciplinary approach weaves together historical documents, pop iconography, and contemporary events to expose the often-invisible politics of place. Through this layering, I create visual dialogues that challenge the boundaries between personal narrative and collective mythology, between local experience and global connection.

At its core, my practice is an act of translation—transforming societal miscommunications into moments of recognition, turning geographic distance into sites of unexpected intimacy. Each work invites viewers to reconsider their own position within the contested territories of American identity.

Alex Merchant lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.