“Alex understands object aura. And like any good Angeleno, he knows it comes in both authentic and kitsch flavors... His replicas of the crystal egg from Risky Business (1983) and the black onyx Maltese Falcon from the eponymous 1941 film—Risky Business (2014–15) and Maltese Falcon (2013)—toe the line between memorabilia and art object. Authentically Alex Israel rather than authentically collector’s items.”
—Gagosian, Alex Israel: Freeway, 2022
‘‘This is again one of those double take moments when you look at this wonderful display of French 18th-century soft-paste porcelain and you’re not thinking “What is Alex Israel doing in the case?,” [Catherine] Hess commented. “You’re thinking maybe ‘I didn’t know they had soft-serve yogurt in the 18th century.’ You’re wondering what belongs and what doesn’t belong?” [Kevin] Salatino said one of Israel’s relatives at one time owned a chain of frozen yogurt shops called 'The Bigg Chill' in the region. “It’s also a reference to the film ‘The Big Chill,’ which is a popular 80’s film,” he added. “The yogurt itself is in marble, but the cup is actual Styrofoam. It’s a kind of humorous take on durability. Alex’s whole point is that if this were in a waste site, it’s much more likely that the Styrofoam would last longer than the marble.”
—Stacy Lee, Israel Focuses on Celebrity Culture, LA Iconography in Huntington Exhibition, 2016