Alex Proba on innovative art and giving back to children

Get ready for an extra special merch drop. For our March illustration, artist Alex Proba collabed with Rozi (17) from Lombok. Rozi is a passionate artist with Down syndrome.  He's a bit older than his classmates, but his love for learning keeps him happily attending the SD4 Batu Putih school! Alex and Rozi worked together to create a wonderful illustration all about the different places that make you feel at home.

Growing up in Germany and cultivating her love of art

Alex Proba’s parents managed to leave communist Poland in the 80s and move to Germany, where she grew up. When reminiscing about her upbringing, she recalls:

“I come from a family of doctors where science was at its core, and the only colour found at our home furnishing and decor was navy, the rest was black and white. I mostly spent my afternoons and weekends and holidays with my grandmother, who left her career as a florist to take care of my brother and me. 

“When I was about fourteen, I painted paintings of mostly florals on summer break, again with my grandmother by my side. When I was about sixteen years old, I studied as an exchange student in Ohio where I learned to appreciate art and craft more than any other time in my life. I started drawing, painting and experimenting with materials and objects. I felt something special when creating. I never stopped creating, even after I came back home to Germany.”

Although her inclinations towards art were apparent from a young age, her parents saw her creativity more as a hobby. It might not be surprising to hear then, that she initially decided to follow in her family’s footsteps and become a doctor. 

That didn’t last very long, though. She goes on to explain: “I realised very quickly that medicine wasn’t the path I truly wanted to take. I took my chances and followed my heart by applying for design school in Hamburg, Germany. And then it just all fell into place from there. It was the best decision I’ve made.

“I’ve studied Spatial Design undergrad which was a mix of architecture and graphic design. And then I went to study Contextual Design (furniture & product) at the Design Academy Eindhoven.”

Alex calls Spatial Design a “fancy term for architecture” and shares that she is fascinated with the way design shapes our environment and influences our behaviour. 

“Spatial Design allowed me to explore physical spaces and their interactions with people, while Contextual Design taught me how to consider the cultural, historical, and social aspects when creating art and products. These studies gave me a holistic approach to design, blending practicality with a deep understanding of context. Both have influenced my work, allowing me to create pieces that connect with their surroundings on multiple levels.”

Flourishing as an artist, murals, and pool designs

Alex had always dreamed of living in New York. She lived there in 2008 during grad school and in 2011 she made her dream a reality. 

“New York has such fierce competition and is so expensive to live in that it pushed me to work harder than ever before. I knew if I could make it there, I could make it anywhere. It gave me the motivation and the drive I needed to prove myself (and my family).”

She started out as an Art Director at Kickstarter and a Design Director at Mother New York. But she has also done lots of amazing projects outside of her regular job, the first one being mural art. 

According to Alex, she unintentionally stumbled into mural art. “I had been experimenting with different forms of design and visual art, and the opportunity to work on a large-scale mural came up. I fell in love with the process—how it transforms an entire space and how people interact with it. Mural art is an immersive experience for both the artist and the viewer, and that’s something that has always intrigued me. With my art in general I try to spread joy and happiness no matter what it is.”

In true Alex Proba fashion, her first mural project was an immediate banger. She was commissioned to create a 60-foot piece for the Dropbox headquarters. She explains that this project came from a close friend and former boss of hers. 

“We decided to collaborate on painting a mural for their space, even though neither of us had ever done a mural before. That’s how I approach most projects—it’s more exciting to me when I don’t know exactly how to do it. The process is actually pretty simple: design the artwork, get client approval, and then bring it to life with paint and a brush.”

We can see this kind of approach in many of Alex’s past projects. It seems that she can make anything her canvas, even swimming pools. If you have heard her name thrown around online, you have probably seen her iconic pool designs. Just have a look at her Hill House Pool in Palm Springs and you’ll understand the hype.

“The pool designs came from my desire to create something truly immersive, art that could not only be seen but also experienced,” Alex explains. “I had always been fascinated by the idea of public art blending with everyday spaces, and a pool is a perfect canvas for that."

She goes on: “Creating the pool designs was all about reimagining the space as more than just a functional area, it was about transforming the water into a piece of art. For the latest Miami pool, I chose organic handmade tiles because they allowed me to incorporate intricate patterns and vibrant colours while ensuring long-lasting durability. The goal was to create a space that was as visually stunning as it was functional, and tiles became the perfect medium to bring this vision to life. 

“Inspired by coral reefs, the design serves as both a visual statement and a tribute to the importance of our planet’s ecosystems. With reefs under threat from climate change, the pool is a reminder of the urgent need for environmental preservation.”

Alex admits that she hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming response to her pool designs, but she supposes that people are drawn to her convention-breaking designs and the fun flare she adds to her art. 

LittleProba and collabing with Indonesian children

Alex is no stranger to working with children. She has her own non-profit initiative, LittleProba, through which she works with children from around the world. Together, they create art which she then transforms into rugs and sends all proceeds directly back to the kids. Sound familiar to any other charity?

With Alex’s incredible artistry and affinity to helping children, it was only logical that we reach out to her for a collab. And it seems like she agrees with us. 

“This collaboration is a perfect fit with what I’m already doing through my LittleProba initiative. I truly enjoy working with kids because their creativity takes them to places the adult mind often doesn't go. I’m always excited to help in any way I can, and this project is a wonderful opportunity to do that.”

For her collab, Alex worked with Rozi on an illustration. When discussing her creative process, she explains: “I took the key elements from his drawing and reimagined them in a larger, more abstract composition, while still honouring his original work. His drawing represented his hometown, and I wanted to add colour and joy into his home. I blended his shapes with my own, creating a harmonious mix of his innocence and my own style. It was all about finding the right balance, and the entire process was super fun.”

She goes on to say that she loved working with Rozi’s geometric shapes, as she felt they combined perfectly with her organic shapes and patterns. 

Finding home in your surroundings

Rozi loves Gili Asahan, the island where he lives. When given the theme of ‘makes you feel like home’, he captured everything on the island, the houses, shops, and of course, his beloved school. When discussing how he relates to the theme, Alex says:

“Rozi’s drawing is such a beautiful reflection of the theme because it shows the places that are most meaningful to him: his home, his school, and his community. It’s a reminder that home isn’t just a physical place, but the people and experiences that make us feel connected and safe.”

And what makes Alex feel at home? “For me, feeling at home is about the people around me, the spaces I create, and the little moments of joy that I find in everyday life. It’s the comfort of being in a place that feels right, whether it’s through the warmth of family, the colours around me, or the art that fills my space. And wherever my dog Sam and my partner Ian are.”

At the end of such an eye-opening interview, it’s great to hear that Alex has also gotten something out of this experience. “This collaboration taught me the power of simplicity and the importance of giving space to other people’s voices in the creative process.”

And, as a final message to her collab partner, Alex shares: “I loved working with Rozi art and seeing how his unique perspective shaped our project.”