ARTmonday: Sassy Signs and Sculptures by Alejandro Diaz

I’ve seem a lot of quirky neon messages on Pinterest, blogs, and Tumblrs, as well as some in the new contemporary wing at the MFA, but hadn’t taken time to learn about the artists. Handily, RISD just emailed me about a new show at the RISD Museum opening next month showcasing a number of the more prominent pieces I’ve seen.  

RISD Business: Sassy Signs and Sculptures by Alejandro Diaz features comical lit and cardboard signs for which Diaz is best known, such as “Make Tacos Not War” and “Unhappy at Last,” which grew from a 2003 series of public performances in front of New York landmarks like Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue and the Plaza Hotel. His works are considered not just art, but entertainment, activism, public intervention, and free enterprise.

The exhibit opens Friday, November 16 at the RISD Museum in Providence. The public is invited to a free opening celebration with the Texas-born, NYC-based artist on Thursday, November 15, at 6 pm. The exhibit will be on view until June 9, 2013.

Alejandro Diaz, Happiness Is Expensive, 2008.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of Dorfman Projects, NY.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Alejandro Diaz, Ongoing series of cardboard signs, 2003-present.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of the artist.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Alejandro Diaz, Ongoing series of cardboard signs, 2003-present.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of the artist.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Alejandro Diaz, Ongoing series of cardboard signs, 2003-present.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of the artist.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Alejandro Diaz, Lost Our Lease, 2010.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy Royale Projects, CA.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

AlejandroDiaz,MakeTacosNotWar.
©AlejandroDiaz.Courtesy David Shelton Gallery, Houston, TX.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

AlejandroDiaz,InTheFutureEveryoneWillBeFamousfor$15.00, 2007.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of the artist.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Alejandro Diaz, More Dior / Less War, 2012.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of Dorfman Projects, NY.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

Alejandro Diaz, Portable Sign Series: Naked Artist Inside, 2009– present.
© Alejandro Diaz. Courtesy of the artist and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.

And a few other works I found on the web…

Alejandro Diaz, Unknown Artists at Unheard of Prices, 2006
purple neon sign 24″ x 36″ [installation view]

Alejandro Diaz, No Shirt No Shoes, 2009
Neon, 17″ x 36″, Edition of 3 

Alejandro Diaz, Jesus/Cheeses, 2009
[installation view at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield]
Courtesy of the artist and The Happy Lion, Los Angeles

Alejandro Diaz