INTERVIEW TO ALEX NUÑEZ AND HER VISION OF FLORIDA'S PLAYFUL WILD

The idea first surfaced during an intimate period of recovery. While helping her father through a kidney transplant, Nuñez spent long hours in the lush garden of her family home in Kendall. There, between tropical plants and the constant hum of wildlife, she began to notice what she calls the “invisible energy” of Florida’s natural environment and the ways in which humans disrupt it. The project developed slowly over two years, growing like the foliage that first surrounded her.

Gators often symbolize fear for outsiders. What do they mean to you personally as a Floridian?
For me, gators are a symbol of South Florida. They remind us that we’re living in their space, not the other way around. They carry surprise, danger, and mystery, but also represent wilderness and resilience.

What makes Nuñez’s work striking is the balance she strikes between humor and unease. Pop culture references, pastel colors, and a touch of satire pull viewers in, making the “not normal” feel almost ordinary. “Humor is universal,” she says. “It’s a way to invite people into difficult conversations whether it’s climate change, overdevelopment of the Everglades, or just the reality of living with wild animals in your backyard.

Do you see your use of color as connected to Florida’s natural environment—its light, vegetation, or even its culture?
Absolutely. My palette comes from everywhere: South Beach pastels, Cuban-American homes full of color, the glitz of Miami, even when living in New York I still gravitated towards gold and neon. It’s a mix of Art Deco, nightlife, and tropical vibrancy. I was born into this palette—I never escaped it.

What do you hope viewers take away when they see There’s a Gator in the Pool?
That it’s both fun and mysterious, but also celebratory. It’s about being Floridian—living in a place where nature is always close, even in your own backyard. The work celebrates our surroundings, filtered through satire and a romanticized lens.

Whether in the big room designed like a backyard or the smaller, pool-like installation, Nuñez wants viewers to leave with a sense of mystery and delight.