STATEMENT
Thirty years ago, I believed my role as an artist was more as a journalist and documentarian—to record impartially what I saw through sketching and painting. Aside from commissioned portraits for editorials such as The New Yorker, I set out on self-initiated projects to portray Balthus Island Aboriginals hunting, tribal wars in Papua New Guinea, boardwalk scenes in Coney Island and the disappearing culture of the Lacandon Maya in Chiapas, Mexico.
Today I feel my role as an artist is not solely to document human events I am witness to. As a contemporary Latinx artist, as well as daughter and granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, my responsibility through my work is to speak out against social injustices inflicted upon Latinx communities, and ultimately through my image making, proudly share our rich cultural heritage through the echoing voices of our ancestors.
BIOGRAPHY
Kelynn Z. Alder is featured in the book, 100 New York Painters, by Cynthia Maris Dantzic. She’s created portraits of celebrities for editorials such as The New Yorker, documented sideshow performers in Coney Island, and traveled extensively to portray Aboriginals elders of Australia, tribal warriors of Papua New Guinea, and the Lacandon Mayan of the Mexican rainforest.
As a daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Alder explores her connection to humanity through her rich cultural ancestry. In her portraiture, she carries an inherent duty to advocate for immigrants and to speak out against the injustices of parents separated from their children due to border policies.
Attempting to bridge cultural gaps through the arts among communities across Long Island and New York, Alder helped found Latino Arts of Long Island. In 2023 Alder curated the award-winning exhibition entitled SOMOS/WE ARE, for the Long Island Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, featuring the works of 82 underrepresented Long Island Latinx artists. SOMOS/WE ARE ran in conjunction and collaboration with Alder’s solo exhibition at nearby Gallery North, entitled, Animal Spirits & Ancient Rituals, presenting Alder’s paintings and prints celebrating Mexican festivals and icons.
Outside of the U.S., Alder has led groups of voluntary artists to conduct free art workshops for underserved communities in Mexico, most especially within the indigenous communities of Chiapas. She is the co-founder of artmadehere.org.
Alder teaches drawing and painting at The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan where she earned her MFA. She is represented by Moore Artist Group.