Artist Turns People Into 2D Paintings

60 Second Docs profiled the very talented Alexa Meade, an artist who skillfully transforms people into 2D portraits by painting their bodies with the strategic use of shadows. Once finished, Meade’s subjects fit easily into a painted set like a living piece of art.

Award-winning American artist Alexa Meade creates life-sized portraits… in the real world.

In 2023, Meade took over an empty Best Buy store on Fifth Avenue in New York City for her Wonderland Dreams installation.

Artist Alexa Meade paints on the human body and three-dimensional spaces, creating the illusion that our reality is a two-dimensional painting.  …Every inch of the 26,000 square foot space was painted from floor to ceiling, using Alexa’s signature style of art which lets you step inside of a painting.

Alexa Meade Art
Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.