Alex Bauwens
Contemporary Realist · Peoria, Arizona
Alex Bauwens in her studio
Alex Bauwens is a contemporary realist painter based in Peoria, Arizona, whose work explores the beauty, power, and vulnerability of the natural world — particularly the horse and its relationship to the American West.
Over nearly two decades, Bauwens has developed a technique rooted in the classical tradition, building luminous, layered oil paintings that blend precise observation with emotional depth. Her canvases draw from the masters while speaking to a distinctly modern sensibility.
With more than twenty years in the reining horse industry, her connection to equestrian life runs deeper than subject matter alone — it informs the way she sees movement, relationship, and quiet moments of trust between horse and rider.
Her work extends beyond equestrian subjects to intimate animal portraits, entomological studies, and figurative work that celebrates craft and careful looking. Her paintings have been recognized by the International Guild of Realism, the Art Renewal Center, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, and The Artist's Magazine.
Recognition
- Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Award — 13th International ARC Salon · Asleep
- Best Wildlife Award — International Guild of Realism (IGOR) · Asleep
- Finalist — 14th International ARC Salon, Animal Category · Sojourn
- Finalist — 13th International ARC Salon, Animal Category · The Mutt
- Selected Artist — International Guild of Realism (IGOR) Fall Online Exhibition
- Award Winner — Small Works Big Vision Exhibition · Daedalus's Son
Museum & Gallery Exhibitions
13th & 14th International ARC Salon Traveling Exhibition
- MEAM — Museu Europeu d'Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
- Sotheby's, Los Angeles, CA
In the Studio
Bauwens works from her studio in Arizona, where natural light and proximity to the desert landscape shape the atmosphere of her practice. Her process is deeply methodical: building forms in layers, beginning with thin washes and slowly developing depth, color, and texture.
She works in oils, using a combination of turpentine and very thin oil paint for early stages. “I like to build my paintings in layers, starting with an ébauche, making sure my edges are very loose; then a second loose layer, slowly building. When I'm ready for detail, I like to start with the eyes.”
She also works in graphite, producing large-scale drawings that demonstrate equal mastery of value, composition, and quiet emotional presence.
Press & Publications
Fine Art Connoisseur
ARC Salon Award Winner
The Artist's Magazine
Annual Competition Spotlight · 2015
The Artist's Magazine
Artist Feature
Scottsdale Independent
“Scottsdale Artist Wins International Award” · 2018
Images Arizona
Cover Feature · “Bow, Barn and Brush”