As part of Delbarton’s annual AP Art Exhibit, we continue our AP Artist Spotlight series highlighting the creativity and vision of our senior artists. This week, we feature Alex Makovsky ’26, whose Sustained Investigation explores chaos through abstraction, movement, color, and experimentation.

“I have always been drawn to disorder,” said Alex. At the beginning of his AP Art journey, he planned to explore large groups of people and the chaotic mix of emotions, shapes, and sounds they create. As his work developed, however, his focus naturally became more abstract and evolved into a broader exploration of chaos itself.

He began experimenting with a variety of materials and techniques, combining the collage elements of his earlier pieces with splattered and dripping paint, cartooning, and layered or interwoven elements. His process also became less meticulous, allowing movement and spontaneity to play a larger role in his work.

“The overall focus of my pieces is depicting chaos through abstraction, brushstrokes, and color,” he said. “My processes as time moved on became less meticulous and more designed to create feelings of movement, action, and overwhelm.”

As his portfolio evolved, Alexander drew inspiration from artists like Pablo Picasso and others who pushed the boundaries of abstraction, moving away from the collage and photography that influenced his earlier work and toward styles ranging from Cubism to Abstract Expressionism.

For Alex, the feeling behind a piece is ultimately more important than creating one clear or recognizable image.

“I enjoy leaving my work up to interpretation and I strive for my pieces to hold many meanings that connect with others in a personal way,” he said.

Through bold color, expressive brushwork, and experimentation, Alex's portfolio invites viewers to find their own meaning within the chaos.