The American-born philanthropist combines art history with references to pop culture and iconography. He is particularly inspired by the simplicity and boldness of stripes, citing Morris Louis (Bernstein), Barnett Newman and Agnes Martin as influences.

Viewers may recognise elements of the Colour Field genre in Alex’s paintings. This emerged in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s and is characterised by sections of solid, flat colour and an emphasis on overall consistency and form.

Alex says: “I was the weird kid who went to an art museum instead of a playground. At ten years old, I fell in love with stripes. They are an iconic, graphic machine in our consciousness and in the world of art, appealing to us all at some instinctual level.”