IN THE SPOTLIGHT
ALEX MARKWITH - New York artist who moved to Helsinki
It was a cold winter day on Lauttasaari island of Helsinki when I sat down with American visual artist Alex Markwith to discuss creative living in the Northern hemisphere at the time of global pandemic. Last fall Alex sold all his furniture and donated most of his art studio supplies in order to leave New York City and relocate in Finland. Together with his partner (she’s Finnish) and a rescue dog (he’s Texan) they enjoy nature and a slower pace of life. His first solo exhibition in Finland just closed and a new one is on the way.
What made you decide to move to Finland?
The idea of living in Europe had long been of interest to me. I spent six months in Rome while a student, and during my senior year of art school I applied for a Fulbright grant, hoping to move to Berlin. I was rejected, but a year later I had a solo show in Paris which scratched the itch. In the back of my mind I sometimes wondered how and when I would get back to Europe, though for years I was convinced that New York was the best place to be as a visual artist.