Alex Cook – Stonebalancer Murals

I have been painting murals since 1997. Since the very first mural I ever painted I saw that in this medium I have power to reach a broad audience with my best, most beautiful ideas. I thrive in the social, public aspect of art. I work to serve basic human goodness and progress by making pictures that comfort, inspire, and bring about experiences of wonder. My images are often based in nature, animals, narrative, and mysterious storytelling. I have always felt good that my visual lexicon is largely very accessible to most people. I want my work to be easy to feel. Simple things like grandeur, stillness, purity, etc., are where my focus is. My work always has a spiritual element to it – a desire to reach people in their intimate thoughts and help them feel that life has riches and safety that can be found. 

I have made over 240 murals in the US and abroad. They are in 25 states as well as Nigeria, Kenya, Guatemala, and Canada. I have worked with countless organizations – schools, businesses, worship communities, prisons, and others to create art that enriches life, and contributes to a healthier culture. 

In 2014 I created the YOU ARE LOVED mural project. (www.youarelovedmurals.com) As such I work with organizations creating murals that say the words YOU ARE LOVED. This project has a foot in the arts and a foot in mental health and care. This project aims specifically to help change the public conversation about self worth, bullying, depression, etc. So far there are 100 of these murals in 15 states, with more coming. These murals are in a broad array of locations as well, but they have connected especially well in school, shelters, and worship communities. In the best email I ever received an individual intimated to me that he had decided to end his life, but came across one of these murals. He felt it was speaking directly to him and helped him decide to continue living.