Alexander Romans ŮٱƵ21 only started painting last summer, but heŮٱƵs already taking the art world by storm. Known as Harris-Lee Rose, heŮٱƵs been featured in art exhibitions both locally and internationally, and heŮٱƵs even posting videos of his late-night painting sessions.
Finding the right college was pretty straightforward for Alexander Romans ŮٱƵ21. ŮٱƵI grew up in the tri-state area and wanted to make sure that I stayed close to the city while in college,ŮٱƵ he told us, and Pace was a natural fit. However, he was on quite a different path when he first started out, and it wasnŮٱƵt until he completed a sixth-month internship in the real estate industry that he began to reassess his plans.
ŮٱƵI was full of confusion, unease, and slight frustration,ŮٱƵ Romans told us. ŮٱƵI knew I didnŮٱƵt want to work in the field because my heart simply wasnŮٱƵt in it.ŮٱƵ To release some of that frustration, he began paintingŮٱƵand his love (not to mention talent) for the medium took off. ŮٱƵI havenŮٱƵt stopped ever since,ŮٱƵ he said, having switched to a major in art with a focus in graphic design that very next semester.
Romans has built quite the name for himself online since. Under his artist name Harris-Lee Rose, he posts and of his process, most of which occurs late at night. ŮٱƵI normally create around 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. If IŮٱƵm having a very unique night, then I will continue on until sunrise the following morning,ŮٱƵ he explained. He also plays music to keep him going, although ŮٱƵafter an hour or so, the music tunes out and simply becomes background sounds.ŮٱƵ
ŮٱƵI truly never thought I would be involved in the art world, let alone be an artist."
ItŮٱƵs no easy feat for anyone to launch a social media presence. Romans is as much an artist as he is a marketing and brand strategist, expertly incorporating his creative process and completed works into weekly vlogs. ŮٱƵI approach marketing myself as another artistic outlet,ŮٱƵ he told us, ŮٱƵas well as a form of personal and public documentation of my artwork and process. I only act on what feels true and creative to meŮٱƵnothing else.ŮٱƵ
And the art world is taking notice. HeŮٱƵs participated in group art exhibitions both locally and internationally, including a recent solo exhibition right in his home state of New Jersey. With that experience under his belt, Romans is already looking toward the future. ŮٱƵI plan to start painting on clothing, illustrate [and] write a book, and continue to document and push toward getting deeper into the art world,ŮٱƵ he said.
To date, his most memorable moment was seeing his work displayed in a public space alongside other artists. ŮٱƵI truly never thought I would be involved in the art world, let alone be an artist,ŮٱƵ Romans told us. ŮٱƵIt all seemedŮٱƵand to a degree, still doesŮٱƵvery surreal. It [...] seems to all be moving so fast.ŮٱƵ We canŮٱƵt say weŮٱƵre surprised. HeŮٱƵs too talented not to be noticed and uplifted into the art industry!
With everything heŮٱƵs accomplished so far, and so quickly, we had to ask: does he experience ŮٱƵart blocksŮٱƵ that slow or prevent his creative process? The answer: yes, but he has a clever way of dealing with them. ŮٱƵThe only way I deal with ŮٱƵart blocksŮٱƵ is by switching my medium, and it works every time for me. If IŮٱƵm exhausted mentally of painting, I will drawŮٱƵand vice versa.ŮٱƵ
Romans is well on his way to taking the art world by storm, and we canŮٱƵt wait to see where his next project will take him. Be sure to keep an eye on his social presenceŮٱƵthis artist is going places.
