Now and Then, The Cabinet Card Paintings of Alex Gross, published by Ginko Press, is a compilation of 98 mixed media paintings on antique cabinet card photographs, done over the last four years.

In addition to a short introduction, the book also features 32 images of the original cards before they were painted on.

The book is filled with a series of mixed media paintings done directly upon antique Victorian cabinet cards. Cabinet cards are early photographs on heavy card stock, in this case dating from the 1880s through the early 1900s. Today it is not hard to find inexpensive cabinet cards. They can be purchased in antique stores, at flea markets and on ebay.

The artist uses a mixture of collage, acrylic and oil paints in making these pieces. Many of them were inspired by pop culture figures, like super heroes from the comics that he read as a child.

Alex Gross is currently based in Los Angeles, California. In 1990, he received a BFA with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Since then, he has had seven solo exhibitions at various galleries, and participated in dozens of group exhibitions across the globe.

In the summer of 2007, Alex’s first retrospective museum show was held at the Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana, California. Alex is a recipient of the prestigious Artists Fellowship from the Japan Foundation, and several faculty grants from Art Center College of Design.

You can order the 112 page hardcover book HERE for $15.