Alex Prager

**Alex Prager** (b. 1979, Los Angeles; resides and creates in Los Angeles) is a distinguished photographer and filmmaker celebrated for her intricately staged scenes that intertwine diverse influences ranging from Hollywood cinema to experimental film, popular culture, and street photography. Prager's artistic practice is characterized by her meticulous casting and staging, which seamlessly blend historical and contemporary elements to evoke a tantalizing sense of ambiguity. Her work transports viewers into familiar yet surreal realms, where fiction and reality converge, often igniting a wistful nostalgia. Each composition serves as a frozen moment in time, inviting spectators to engage their imaginations and "complete the story," pondering the narrative behind the image. Prager's art not only captivates with its visual allure but also prompts reflection on the voyeuristic nature inherent in photography and film, creating an unsettling awareness of intruding upon intimate moments. The deliberate choreography of her pieces unveils the constructed nature of imagery in our media-saturated world, challenging perceptions of authenticity and consumption. Prager's solo exhibitions have garnered international acclaim, with notable presentations at esteemed venues such as Fondazione Sozzani in Milan (2019), FOAM Fotografiemuseum in Amsterdam (2019), Multimedia Art Museum in Moscow (2019), and Musée des Beaux-Arts Le Locle in Switzerland (2018). Her work has also been showcased in prestigious group exhibitions, including *Telling Tales: Contemporary Narrative Photography* at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio (2016-2014) and *New Photography* at The Museum of Modern Art in New York (2010). Her pieces reside in numerous prominent collections worldwide, including the Kunsthaus Zurich, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Recognized for her contributions to contemporary art, Prager has received several prestigious awards, such as the FOAM Paul Huf Award (2012) and the Vevey International Photography Award (2009). Her editorial work has been featured in leading publications like *Vogue*, *New York Magazine*, and *W*. Additionally, her film series *Touch of Evil*, commissioned by The New York Times Magazine, was honored with an Emmy Award in 2012. In 2017, she completed her first major public commission, *Applause*, for Times Square Arts' Midnight Moment, further establishing her as a dynamic force in the contemporary art landscape.