Photographer based in Berlin, Germany
Alex Bex, Portrait of the Photographer
Tell us about yourself, what's your background?
I was born to a Texan mother and a French father, and I grew up in Austin for the first years of my life, before spending most of my childhood in Toulouse. I first got into art through music. Growing up in France I played the drums in a few bands as a teenager. Punk-rock and indie music was a big thing during the mid-2000s and everyone wanted to be in a band. Since I was fluent in English, I ended up writing the lyrics of our songs. That’s how I started exploring prose and poetry for a few years. Looking back, I think that time really shaped how I take photos today. It taught me to observe and appreciate the subtleties of everyday moments. It gave me a way of expressing ideas and emotions that still feed into my visual work.
Highschool rodeo, Fort Worth, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
Before working as a photographer, I spent my early adult years working as a project manager at a couple of record labels. I was already interested in photography—something I picked up from my dad, who collected analog cameras and photo books for as long as I can remember. Over time, things just evolved pretty naturally. I started doing press shots for some of the artists I met through the job, and slowly, photography became more than just a side thing.
“Memories of Dust, is a long-term exploration of traditional masculinity in Texas, where I look at the myth of the cowboy and its role in a changing society. . . In addition to photographing the people there, I also work with them and learn about the lives, realities, and hardships of the cowboy, which I then compare to its cultural myth."
A moment before, Levelland, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?
My current project, Memories of Dust, is a long-term exploration of traditional masculinity in Texas, where I look at the myth of the cowboy and its role in a changing society. For this project, I spend time on ranches and at rodeos. In addition to photographing the people there, I also work with them and learn about the lives, realities, and hardships of the cowboy, which I then compare to its cultural myth.
Morning ritual, Sabinas, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
I’m particularly interested in how visual media has influenced our interpretation of gender roles and the symbols used to express masculinity. For example, Westerns and other movies with strong male leads have shaped our beliefs about what a ‘real’ man should be. While there are positive aspects to how male heroes are portrayed, I believe this narrative can sometimes be misleading and not always a good image for children who look up to these heroes. With my project, I try to help push the boundaries of a male stereotype and rethink the narrative of an important role model in a more honest approach.
In parallel to this work, I’ve also started a photo project about young male friendships, inspired by personal life events. This project is set in my hometown of Balma, near Toulouse in France—a sort of non-place caught between the city and the countryside. Still following my principal theme of masculinity, I’m interested here in exploring the dynamics of male relationships, which can be more subtle or complex than traditional romantic ones. This is a subject that is not represented enough in visual media, and which I find particularly important in the context of masculinity today.
Rancher with firearm, Abilene, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
Innovation does not only happen in the field of technology — it occurs everyday in a creative practice. What do you do for inspiration?
Looking at images, whether movies, photos, ads, tattoos, or social media content, has been the best source of inspiration for my work. Recently, I’ve been enjoying collecting archive photographs found in roadside antique shops during my trips to Texas. It’s fascinating for me to observe how these men from the past pose for pictures, the different visual cues they use to signify their masculinity, and how they evolved (or not) with time.
Preparing 'Memories of Dust' prints for an upcoming exhibition
How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?
For my ongoing work, I embrace the ritual of the traveling photographer. Whenever I get the chance to go to Texas for a couple of months, I come to make extensive journeys across the state. I meet ranchers primarily at rodeos and through connections made during my travels. I choose not to travel by car, relying instead on hitchhiking, carpooling, and Greyhound buses or public transportation. This approach allows me to build deeper connections with the people I encounter. Traveling without a car also slows time, fostering a more intimate connection with my surroundings and allowing for unexpected encounters.
Projection and presentation of my series 'Memories of Dust' at Fotofestiwal Łódź (2024)
Who are your biggest influences?
When I was younger, I was particularly drawn to poets like William Carlos Williams or Gregory Corso, whose work is often brief and visual. For many years, I experimented with writing, and this had a significant influence on how I make pictures. This practice shaped how I express ideas and emotions through the immediacy of an image. It also led me to appreciate the work of Jeff Wall. Though our approaches differ, his photography is a major influence on me. I admire how he captures little moments that might otherwise be overlooked, by recreating scenes of everyday life that could easily be mistaken for candid snapshots. His ability to carve out these moments, make them captivating, and have us truly look at them is something I aspire to in my practice. Beyond the staging of his images, his intellectual approach to photography has been inspiring, allowing me to discover other forms of photographic work that reflect on the medium itself and the concept of subjectivity in the documentary format.
Behind-the-scenes photo of a rancher while working on one of many ranches in Texas
Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?
A movie that recently struck me is the French Western Junkyard Dog (Chien de la casse) by Jean-Baptiste Durand. It’s a film about an unhealthy male friendship and friend group dynamics set in the still countryside of Southern France. The movie resonated with me because of its story location and the similarities to some experiences I’ve had in my childhood. It helped me define the new photography project about male friendships I’ve started working on.
How will Innovate Grant contribute to your practice?
Innovate Grant will allow me to fund my next trip to Texas within the ranching community, to continue my long-term project Memories of Dust, and help rethink male role models in one of its many necessary ways.
(Left) Ranch interior, Sabinal, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
(Right) Untitled (Merrick), London, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I don’t know if this is the best piece of advice given to me, but it’s the most recent one I've kept in my head. When things aren’t going well with my projects, I tend to overthink and immediately come up with plan B’s. My father once told me to just focus on what I’ve decided to do and put all my energy into making it happen, instead of wasting time looking for alternatives. He said that if I want to do something, whether a project or a life change, I should commit to it until the end. As long as it hasn’t unmistakably failed, it can still work out.
Rodeo intermission (#2), Levelland, Texas, 2024 (from the series Memories of Dust)
Stay up to date with Alex Bex
Website alexbex.com
Instagram @alxbx