Alex Israel’s “Heaven”
Exploring Cultural Memory, Acts of Resurrection, and the Importance of Place.
The LA-based artist will be featured in Art in Unexpected Places’ 20th anniversary season at Aspen Snowmass
The 2024-2025 season marks the 20th anniversary of Art in Unexpected Places (ArtUP), a program that has transformed our mountain landscape into a canvas for artistic expression for two decades. This year, in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Snowmass collaborates with Los Angeles-based artist Alex Israel, whose works will explore the themes of cultural memory in a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition at Ruthie’s on the face of Aspen Mountain this season.
Alex Israel: Pursuits of Pleasure and Escape
Alex Israel, a contemporary artist from Los Angeles, is renowned for his multifaceted works that draw upon traditions of pop culture, celebrity and entertainment to consider ways in which fantasy, escapism and the pursuit of joy shape our lives. Across paintings, writing, sculpture, filmmaking, and digital media, Israel explores the mythologies that lie within culture.
Israel often immerses himself in the industries he invokes. He has created a web series, As It Lays, (2012, 2019) offering unconventional interviews with celebrities, directed a feature-length teen romance, SPF-18, (2017) about young adults navigating the Southern Californian dreamscape, among other such thematically linked projects. His vibrant paintings often invoke sun-drenched skies, crashing waves and glittering cityscapes, and his installations feature movie props, backdrops and set pieces, drawing on a visual language deeply rooted in cinematic traditions.
Israel’s art is rooted in a profound insight into a world defined by celebrity status, and the omnipresent influence of the digital culture. By blending personal narratives with a sharp critique of these modern phenomena, his work navigates the intersection of reality and artifice, exploring the complexities of pleasure and aspiration in contemporary society.
"Heaven" Comes to Aspen: A Nostalgic Journey
For the 2024-2025 season, Israel brings a piece of Los Angeles history to Aspen with “Heaven.” The “Heaven” logo—originally created by artist Brad Benedict for the iconic 1980s novelty store once located in LA’s Century City Mall now adorns this year’s season passes and lift tickets. The store was once a nexus for pop culture and celebrity in LA, and Israel’s use of the logo serves as both an homage to this cultural landmark and a wink at Aspen’s altitude and otherworldly beauty. Israel presents this lift ticket not merely as an image of an artwork, but as a work of art, breathing new life into a beloved brand.
In February and March 2025, “Heaven”, Aspen Snowmass’ very first ski-in/ski-out exhibition, will open in the historic, though long-shuttered former restaurant Ruthie’s on Aspen Mountain, displaying new works by Israel. The show, the first of its kind at the resort, will unite deceased cultural icons while acknowledging the ways in which images circulate as an act of mourning and remembrance. Heaven acts as a moment of resurrection for both the subjects in the exhibition and of the until-now-abandoned Ruthie’s itself.
Heaven is an “exploration of how we generate, store and access memories of a shared culture” says Aspen Art Museum Director of Curatorial Affairs Daniel Merritt. “Like an apparition, Israel’s Heaven is another chapter in the ever-evolving lore of Aspen Mountain.”
“The hope is to create a resonant, unforgettable and unexpected experience for skiers and riders on their visit to the mountain that day,” says Israel.
Given Israel's penchant for creating immersive experiences that blur the lines between reality and fantasy, visitors can expect an exhibition that challenges their perceptions and invites them to see the world through a new lens, all while reflecting on the interplay between pop culture, memory, and place.
“Aspen is basically heaven,” reflects Israel, who learned to ski here as a child. “I’ve been visiting my whole life and for me it’s always been a happy place. I love the community, and the community’s support for the arts.”
Long Love Art: 20 Years of Art in Unexpected Places
Since 2005, ArtUP, Aspen One’s signature art program, has brought world-class art to the slopes and community of Aspen Snowmass through installations, lift ticket artwork and special events. The program has featured renowned artists including Takashi Murakami, FriendsWithYou, Paola Pivi and Rashid Johnson, with artist Paula Crown leading the program since 2017.
"For two decades, ArtUP has transformed our lift tickets into pocket-sized works of art. Now, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we're thrilled to bring Alex Israel's 'Heaven' to Aspen Mountain, transforming Ruthie's and bringing the intersection of art and nature to our community," said Aspen One Chief Brand Officer Gabby Cohen.
In partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, Aspen Snowmass is revisiting and celebrating featured artists who have sparked moments of unanticipated discovery through lift ticket art, on-mountain installations and interventions, multi-media storytelling, and special
events. These moments have defined the program for 20 years and solidified our company and community, as champions of accessible art.
The choice of Alex Israel as this year's featured artist is particularly fitting for this milestone. His work, which often explores themes of aspiration, nostalgia, and the American dream, resonates with the spirit of possibility that draws people to these mountains. Just as Israel blends the boundaries between different forms of artistic expression, Aspen Snowmass continues to blur the lines between outdoor recreation and cultural experience.
A Season of Celebration and Discovery
Whether admiring the unique lift ticket design or exploring the mid-winter exhibition on Aspen Mountain, visitors this season can look forward to a celebration that goes beyond skiing and snowboarding. The 20th anniversary of Art in Unexpected Places promises to be a season of discovery, where every turn down the mountain might lead to a new perspective on art, culture, and collective memory. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most profound experiences come when we least expect them—a fitting tribute to two decades of bringing art to unexpected places.
Heaven on Aspen Mountain
The “Heaven” exhibition at Ruthie's is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily Feb. 15-23 and March 7-16, 2025. A valid lift ticket is required to access Aspen Mountain, as the venue is accessible only by skiing. Skiers and riders can access Ruthie's via the Silver Queen Gondola or Lift 1A. Lift tickets can be purchased at aspensnowmass.com or any Aspen Snowmass ticket office.
