ALEXDI Alexandra Dias: Painting Imperfection, Light, and Human Depth Across Europe

From the Atlantic light of Portugal to the wider European contemporary art landscape, Alexandra Dias, known artistically as ALEXDI, has been quietly shaping a painterly language rooted in light, emotion, imperfection, and human depth. Based in Cascais, near Lisbon, her work has grown with remarkable intensity over the past five years, positioning her as a distinctive voice within a generation of artists for whom painting remains a deeply personal and spiritual act.

Her inclusion in 100 Artists of Europe, a curated international publishing project by Culturale Lab, marks a moment of consolidation in a journey defined by intuition, persistence, and a strong belief in the expressive power of oil painting.

Introduction – Setting the Scene

Born in Porto and now living in Cascais, Alexandra Dias did not follow a conventional artistic trajectory. Her relationship with painting emerged later in life, but once begun, it quickly became central. In just a few years, she has built a substantial body of work, characterized by bold color, textured surfaces, and subjects that oscillate between the figurative and the abstract.

Flowers in jars, trees, and expressive compositions recur throughout her paintings, not as decorative motifs, but as carriers of meaning. Each canvas functions as an emotional field, where human imperfection, love, and spiritual reflection coexist.

A Professional Identity That Stands Apart

Alexandra defines herself first and foremost as a painter. Working primarily in oil on canvas, she approaches the medium with directness and emotional urgency. Her artistic name, ALEXDI, encapsulates a practice that is both intimate and assertive, rooted in personal conviction rather than trend or market expectation.

What distinguishes her work is not the subject alone, but light, emotion and depth. Alexandra states that human beings are imperfect beings, and that this is one of the mysteries of life. Source of beauty and meaning. She repeatedly returns to the idea that human beings are extraordinary precisely because of their imperfections. This belief forms the backbone of her work and informs both her visual language and her written reflections.

Her paintings are expressive. Thick brushstrokes, saturated colors, and visible textures invite the viewer into a space where emotion is not filtered but shared.

Vision, Method, and Approach

Alexandra’s technique is grounded in post-impressionist traditions, with a clear admiration for artists who treated paint as a living, energetic substance. She acknowledges the influence of masters such as Vincent van Gogh, whose expressive brushwork and emotional intensity resonate strongly in her own practice.

Her training took place in Lisbon at the Atelier das Almas, under the guidance of master Gabriel Garcia. Over three years of study, she developed technical discipline while preserving her intuitive approach. Alongside her original works, she completed painting exercises inspired by historical figures including Johannes Vermeer, Pablo Picasso, Édouard Manet, Giorgio Morandi, and Michael Sweerts. These studies functioned not as acts of imitation, but as a way to absorb and reinterpret painterly thinking. 

Despite this solid foundation, Alexandra paints intuitively. Alexandra paints inspired by people who inspire her, for example her daughter Iolanda, her grandfather Francisco, her grandmother Joaquina, among others, all imperfect human beings who are more than perfect. Music often accompanies her sessions, helping her enter a state of flow where gesture, color, and emotion align. Love, energy, and what she describes as “soul” guide her hand.

A Defining Moment

In January 2023, a serious foot injury forced Alexandra into a prolonged period of physical recovery. What could have been a creative interruption became a turning point. With limited mobility, she redirected her energy inward and toward painting with renewed focus.

This period proved decisive. The concentration, introspection, and emotional processing that accompanied her recovery deeply influenced the work that followed. The experience reinforced her belief that apparent setbacks can carry unexpected creative value, a theme that subtly echoes throughout her paintings. Artists transform pain into beauty. Artists have restless souls; they never stop dreaming, constantly building castles in the air. Some dreams dissipate like soap bubbles, others become reality.

Participation in a Culturale Lab Project

Alexandra discovered 100 Artists of Europe through Facebook, but her decision to participate was rooted in a broader conviction. She strongly believes that art should be visible, shared, and open to evaluation. For her, growth as an artist depends on exposure, dialogue, and critical exchange.

The 100 Artists of Europe project is an editorial initiative by Culturale Lab that brings together selected contemporary artists working across Europe. Each artist is presented within a carefully curated print publication distributed internationally. The project functions as a snapshot of contemporary practice rather than a competition, emphasizing documentation and visibility.

For Alexandra, inclusion in this context represents both recognition and opportunity. It places her work within a collective European narrative while allowing her individual voice to remain intact.

An International Context

Alongside her participation in editorial publishing, Alexandra has steadily expanded her international presence. In 2025, she took part in multiple collective exhibitions, both online and in physical spaces. Notably, she participated in a group exhibition in Madrid, further extending her visibility beyond Portugal.

These experiences have reinforced her commitment to engaging with audiences across borders. While deeply rooted in her personal philosophy, her work addresses themes that resonate universally: vulnerability, resilience, sensitivity, emotion, to be extraordinary and brilliant, love and focus on life’s mission.

Looking Ahead

Alexandra’s goals remain grounded and forward-looking. She intends to continue evolving as a painter, develop and deepen technical experimentation with new processes and materials; increase the scale and complexity of the works; participate monthly in a greater number of international online and in-person group painting exhibitions; organize a solo painting exhibition; 

She has also applied for two painting grants, signaling her desire to deepen her practice through sustained research and production.

Her outlook is shaped by optimism and perseverance rather than urgency. Growth, for her, is a continuous process.

Closing Reflection

Alexandra Dias’ work does not seek perfection or resolution. Instead, it offers a space where imperfection becomes luminous, where emotion is allowed to surface, and where painting functions as an act of faith in human complexity. Her final message to readers is simple and consistent with her practice: never stop dreaming. In her view, dreamers are not detached from reality. They are the ones who quietly build it world. Human beings are imperfect beings, and that is a mystery of life. Artists transform pain into beauty. Artists have restless souls; they never stop dreaming, constantly building castles in the air. Some dreams dissipate like soap bubbles, others become reality.

Contact & Links

Website: https://alexandradias.pt/pinturas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandradiaspintura/
100 Artists of Europe: https://culturalelab.com/join-the-book-100-artists-of-europe/