Alex Da Corte may have been born in New Jersey in 1980, but his art of bright lights, carnival colors, and pop-culture references screams 80s New York. Da Corte uses a diverse range of mediums—from painting to film installations—to explore the way the individual relates to consumer culture. His works refer to everything from The Muppet Show to Bart Simpson to Eminem. With each scenography, Da Corte creates a unique universe suffused with matter, movement, and even scent. —Thalia Bonas