Alex Stenzel

Alex Stenzel was born in 1965 in Recklinghausen, Westphalia, and grew up in Oer-Erkenschwick, a coal-mining town near the Ruhr district. Before developing his design and art career, he pursued high-level sport, including junior tennis, mountain biking, and triathlon. His athletic record includes a number 33 ranking in the 1983 ITF junior world ranking, participation in the 1987 Grundig Challenge Mountain Bike World Cup in Kaprun, and entry in the 1986 Ironman World Championship in Kona. Stenzel entered business in 1984 by importing Californian surf T-shirts. In 1986 he launched Broken Glasses Sportswear, a fashion line built around surf and skate influences, relaxed silhouettes, and casual shirts and trousers. The label was sold through boutiques in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. German Vogue identified him among Europe's prominent designers in 1987, and the business reportedly grew to a 15-person operation. Publicly available information does not establish the company's later corporate structure or whether the apparel label remains commercially active. During the 1990s and 2000s Stenzel expanded into product and concept design. His stated work includes household and gift objects, computer accessories, architectural designs, food products, exercise programs, screenplays, and games. His 1999 B1-Be Tower 1 proposal combined architecture, sculpture, video, and online communication in a crystalline tower concept for Berlin. In 2002 he exhibited the project at Don O'Melveny Gallery and proposed a related memorial application to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation after the September 11 attacks. A modified version was submitted to the World Trade Center memorial competition in 2003. Stenzel's visual-art career became increasingly prominent from 2001 onward. At the Los Angeles Biennial Art Invitational, his work was shown at Coleman Gallery and his 10 Tons series appeared on the catalogue cover. A 2002 Don O'Melveny Gallery exhibition received attention in Los Angeles art criticism, while Shipwreck 6.0 Tons was auctioned at the Angel Art event at Christie's. Later solo exhibitions included Paul Fisher Gallery in 2007, Seyhoun Gallery in 2009, and another Don O'Melveny Gallery presentation in 2009. His overpainted photographs begin with images of aged, weathered, or otherwise visually marked surfaces. Stenzel searches for accidental patterns and textures created by environmental exposure and then enlarges the photographs before adding oil or acrylic marks. The technique preserves a photographic trace while introducing painterly lines, forms, and spatial ambiguity. His series titles often refer to weight, reflecting an interest in gravity, mass, and the physical perception of space. The work draws on abstraction, collage, modernist gesture, and Stenzel's stated experiences traveling through Australia and engaging with Aboriginal cultural sites, although the available material does not document a formal institutional affiliation with those communities. In 2004 he developed the Gorilla Sandwich food concept, a cucumber-based, breadless filled sandwich. In 2006 he received permanent United States residency under an extraordinary-ability classification. He has worked in the Los Angeles area and later lived and worked in Bishop, California. In 2014 he participated in Michael Wigge's Barter for Paradise, combining an artwork exchange with an on-screen appearance. His career remains notable for its movement between commercial design and independent art rather than for the operation of a conventional apparel corporation.

• 2014

  Appears in Barter for Paradise

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Stenzel exchanged artwork with Michael Wigge and appeared in the resulting film.

• 2009

  Exhibitions in Los Angeles

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  He held exhibitions at Seyhoun Gallery and Don O'Melveny Gallery in Los Angeles.

• 2007

  Solo exhibition at Paul Fisher Gallery

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Stenzel held a solo presentation at Paul Fisher Gallery in West Palm Beach, Florida.

• 2006

  Receives United States permanent residency

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  He was granted permanent resident status in the United States under an extraordinary-ability classification.

• 2004

  Develops Gorilla Sandwich

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Stenzel designed and patented a breadless cucumber sandwich concept under the Gorilla Sandwich name.

• 2003

  Submits memorial design variation

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  A variation of the B1-Be concept was entered into the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition.

• 2002

  Presents architecture and overpainted photography

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Stenzel exhibited at Don O'Melveny Gallery, proposed a World Trade Center memorial concept, and had Shipwreck 6.0 Tons auctioned at Angel Art.

• 2001

  Exhibits at the Los Angeles Biennial

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  His work was shown at the Absolute L.A. Biennial Art Invitational at Coleman Gallery.

• 1999

  Conceives B1-Be Tower 1

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Stenzel developed an interactive architectural sculpture concept combining a crystalline tower, video displays, and internet connectivity.

• 1987

  Recognized by German Vogue

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Broken Glasses Sportswear and Stenzel were identified by German Vogue among prominent European fashion designers.

• 1986

  Launches Broken Glasses Sportswear

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  Stenzel established his own sportswear label, drawing on surfing and skateboarding and selling through boutiques in German-speaking Europe.

• 1984

  Begins importing Californian surf T-shirts

  [1]Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org

  At age 19, Stenzel began a commercial activity importing surf-oriented T-shirts from California.

A cross-disciplinary independent artist and designer combining fashion, product concepts, architectural experimentation, and painterly interventions on photographic images. His best-known artistic positioning centers on overpainted photographs that transform weathered real-world surfaces into abstract compositions.

• Apparel · 1986

  Broken Glasses Sportswear

  Stenzel's early fashion label, launched in 1986 after he began importing Californian surf shirts. The collection used surf and skateboarding references, including loose-fitting trousers and shirts, and was distributed through trendy boutiques in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The label was associated with Stenzel's appearance in promotional posters and advertisements and was recognized by German Vogue in 1987. Current operating status and ownership are not documented in the supplied sources.

• Food concept · 2004

  Gorilla Sandwich

  A breadless sandwich concept designed in 2004. It uses a hollowed cucumber as the outer structure and can be filled with ingredients including walnuts, avocado, olives, seaweed, and flaxseed oil. The concept was trademarked and described as one of Stenzel's patented product designs; the supplied material does not establish its current commercial availability.

• Visual art

  Overpainted photographs

  Stenzel's signature art form combines photographs of weathered surfaces, structures, or artifacts with applied oil or acrylic paint. He seeks accidental patterns produced by time and weather, then adds sparse lines, geometric marks, and painterly interventions. The process retains a photographic foundation while shifting the subject toward abstraction and an ambiguous sense of depth, weight, and space.

• Architecture and interactive sculpture · 1999

  B1-Be Tower 1

  An interactive tower concept conceived in 1999 for Berlin. The proposed structure used glass, steel, video monitors, and internet connectivity in a crystalline form. Images sent from around the world were intended to appear behind the glass, turning the building into a participatory communications sculpture. It remained a design proposal rather than a documented completed building.

• 2004

  Introduces the Gorilla Sandwich conceptProduct launch

  Background

  Stenzel continued developing products outside conventional fashion, including food-related inventions.

  Action taken

  He designed and trademarked a breadless cucumber sandwich filled with plant-based ingredients.

  Aftermath

  The concept became part of his portfolio of patented and trademarked designs. Current sales and distribution are not established.

  Source

• 1999

  Expands into interactive architectureStrategy

  Background

  Stenzel's design practice broadened beyond apparel into architecture and digitally mediated public art.

  Action taken

  He conceived B1-Be Tower 1, a crystalline structure combining physical materials, video imagery, and internet participation.

  Aftermath

  The concept was exhibited and later adapted for a World Trade Center memorial proposal, but no completed structure is documented.

  Source

• 1986

  Builds a branded sportswear businessStrategy

  Background

  After importing Californian surf T-shirts, Stenzel pursued a proprietary apparel label influenced by surfing and skateboarding.

  Action taken

  He launched Broken Glasses Sportswear and developed a collection distributed through boutiques in German-speaking Europe.

  Aftermath

  The label reportedly grew into a 15-employee business and gained recognition from German Vogue in 1987. Later corporate developments are not documented.

  Source

1. 1Alex Stenzelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Alex Stenzel official websitealexstenzel.com