Artist Statement
Where abundance meets excess, leftovers appear. Too much, too full - a meal to enjoy again later. Leftovers enhance over time, are made anew, forgotten, discarded. Inspired by the Bronx, where food insecurity fuels a culture of creative food solutions, ignites a diverse culinary palate, and inspires a highly sought-after food scene, the leftovers series is a visual hallmark of this reality and that of the artist, Alexis Marie Montoya.
The leftovers collage series began in 2021 born from a desire to connect Montoya’s passion for food in a new format. A tired essential worker, Montoya’s urge to return to the arts was fueled by genuine love and exhaustion for working with, cooking, and eating food. Using the stacks of food magazines in her home, Montoya created visual expressions of her reality living in the Bronx and working in kitchens across New York City through collage art.
Biography
Alexis Marie Montoya is a Puerto Rican and Peruvian multidisciplinary artist and food writer born, raised, and based in the Bronx. Her work examines the intersection of food and culture, especially in the Bronx and Latinx communities. Alexis is a former line cook, food educator, and organizer who leans on her experience to inform her artistic practice. Montoya earned a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Visual Culture from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2017. She was a BronxArtSpace Artist-in-Residence in 2023. Her artwork and food writing can be seen across publications like Bon Appétit, Edible Bronx, and more.
Website: alexismariemontoya.com
Instagram: @alexismontoya_