Alex Schaefer

About

Alex Schaefer (born 1969) is an American contemporary painter, activist, and educator based in Los Angeles. He is best known for his politically charged "Banks on Fire" series, created during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, which depicts major financial institutions engulfed in flames painted en plein air in front of the actual buildings. His work explores the intersections of capitalism, social justice, and institutional critique through bold, visceral imagery that challenges viewers to confront economic inequality and corporate power. Schaefer studied illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, graduating in 1992. After graduation, he spent nine years working as a digital artist in the video game industry, including positions at Disney Interactive and Insomniac Games, where he contributed to the Spyro the Dragon series. He later transitioned to full-time painting and has taught foundation courses in painting, drawing, and composition at the Art Center College of Design for over a decade. His artistic practice combines traditional plein-air landscape and street painting with conceptual and figurative work. Schaefer's choice to paint directly in public spaces transforms everyday urban settings into stages for protest and social commentary, democratizing the experience of contemporary art while maintaining connections to Impressionist traditions and Bay Area figurative movements.

Contemporary political art with plein-air practice; combines Impressionist traditions with conceptual critique of capitalism and social justice themes