Alex Gamsu Jenkins is a master of surrealistic comic art known for creating deeply thought-provoking yet absurd unsettling and captivating illustrations. Some of his work is easier to interpret while other pieces may leave you pondering for hours. Either way, his latest creations are sure to intrigue you. Alex’s wordless stories are paired with vivid artwork that has captivated over 526K Instagram followers. His work has gained recognition from renowned platforms like the New York Times BBC and Vice. Reflecting on his journey Alex shared I knew I had some talent for drawing but things became clearer as I took an evening cartooning course followed by an art foundation and later a BA in illustration. Since then Alex has continued to challenge the status quo, encouraging us to question the very nature of reality.
More info: Instagram | Facebook | alexgamsujenkins.com
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Before becoming a comic artist Alex worked a variety of jobs, including at a supermarket in gardening and at a call center. When asked if any of these past roles influenced his art, Alex shared. Absolutely. I feel like working these jobs had a huge impact on me. During that time, I had completely stopped creating art since childhood. I didn’t pick up a pencil from the age of 12 until I was about 22. I was unfocused and unsure about which career path to take. The work, like in the supermarket, felt mundane and frustrating. When I eventually rediscovered my passion for drawing, it felt like a floodgate opened. All the pent-up frustration came pouring out and the boredom and lack of direction helped fuel my creative spark. Also, I never felt like I was particularly good at those jobs so with art at least I felt there was some talent buried deep within me.
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Curious about whether Alex has a favorite comic he’s created, we asked the artist himself. He shared Yes of course. My favorite ideas are usually the ones that feel the least forced where the concept just pops into my head quickly and effortlessly. For example, in two comics I made for the Adult Swim website there was pressure to create something but within five minutes of sketching the idea was clear and ready to finalize. A lot of the time though I can get stuck on an idea for days endlessly sketching but struggling to make it work. So, my favorite comics are the ones where everything clicks with little pressure.
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There will always be people who don’t understand criticize or leave negative feedback. Alex shared how he handles this challenge. It’s a learning process. I’m pretty introverted like many artists and the idea of presenting my work in person for someone to critique or observe always made me feel awkward or nervous. The internet and social media have made sharing my work much easier as I can upload something without worrying about someone’s facial expression when they look at it. However, there are still moments when a negative comment can sting. I tend to overlook all the positive feedback and focus on that one negative comment which can be hard to shake off. But I think that’s normal. The key is to focus on the positive comments and try to view any negative feedback constructively. Being self-aware helps a lot.
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