Alexandra Grounds is a student from Scottsdale, AZ studying Visual Arts at Columbia GS. She simultaneously advocates for female empowerment through large-scale oil portraiture. She even has some of her work on display at the World Trade Center in addition to multiple galleries around the nation. We sat down to talk to her about her inspiration for art and fashion.
CUFS: Who is your fashion role model?
Alexandra: Beth Harmon from Queens Gambit.
CUFS: What is your favorite trend at the moment
A: Crazy sneakers. I love wearing casual shoes, especially when it’s cool to have them be colorful and expressive.
CUFS: What do you look for most in clothes?
A: Always bright colors. The brighter the better. My closet is literally one big rainbow.
CUFS: Where do you find the inspiration for your art?
A: The city and the people around me. I try and tell other people’s stories and capture their essence through my work, and the vibe of the city I am in (usually NYC) almost always shines through.
CUFS: What is your favorite painting you have ever done and why?
A: Lost in Space because it made the biggest impact. I spent months creating it and as it was one of my first paintings, I was teaching myself how to paint the entire time. I poured a lot into the piece in order to get the story across and I really felt that people understood my message. It’s the first painting that gave me a strong visual voice.
CUFS: What is the most challenging painting you have ever done any why?
A: The one I am working on right now actually. I have now spent four months on it and have changed the background and parts of the foreground 3 times now. I am somewhat of a perfectionist which causes my work to take forever and constantly change if I am unhappy with it. It’s been hard to not just give up and accept a background that I don’t love, but I have to keep stepping back and reminding myself that the piece holds a strong message and I want the technical work to reflect that.
CUFS: If you had to get rid of all but three pieces of clothing from your closet, what would you choose and why?
A: I would keep my aviator nation rainbow stripe jacket, as I practically wear it with every outfit these days and it contains pretty much every color possible; my pair of black rag and bone jeans I have had for 6 years and that never fail me; and my high top golden goose because they’re so comfortable, sparkly and bright purple.. need I say more.
cufashionsociety.com 
Leave a comment