In the mid-1950s, California-based Jesse Alexander decided to combine his interest in sports cars with his interest in photography. He documented car races and rallies in the United States and all over Europe during the golden age of the European Grand Prix and "Mille Miglia." He has been photographing ever since.

Over the years, Alexander’s work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Road & Track, and other major magazines. It has also been featured in several books. The most recent is Driven: The Racing Photography of Jesse Alexander 1954-1962.

As one writer put it: "Alexander's images hum with an energy and seduction second only to the sleek bodies of these now-vintage Maseratis, Mercedes, Ferraris, and Porsches."

During "Art and the Automobile," Jesse Alexander will lead evening roundtable discussions with photographers participating in the photo rally.

www.jessealexander.com

When Jesse Alexander was photographing motor sports in the 1950s, racecar design was entering a new era, particularly with regard to aerodynamics. In 1953 Mercedes Benz introduced the famous 300SL Gullwing. A year later they stunned the competition with their envelope-bodied W196 Grand Prix car.

Bugatti, Bristol, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari: all the manufacturers of the day were endeavouring to make their cars “slippier” than ever. It was an exciting time, and Alexander’s photographs are a window into that fascinating chapter of motor racing history.

Although the California-based photographer’s images have been exhibited widely in the United States, this will be his first show in Canada.
Alexander will be in attendance at “Art and the Automobile” to discuss his work and to animate roundtable discussions with photographers participating in the photo rally.