Alex de Vrede is born in Maastricht, The Netherlands in 1944 where he attended the Stadsacademie in 1970, later followed by the Academy for Arts in Arnhem, The Netherlands where he graduated as a teacher in drawing.

Even today De Vrede combines life as a painter with teaching. For years he worked on his techniques and concepts in the seclusion of his studio, only every now and then holding a modest exhibition. Since the beginning of the 1980s De Vrede intensified his painting and due to the more recent success he is now more skewed towards painting than teaching.

Alex de Vrede often wondered, together with the public, how his unusual paintings were combined with for example the use of a fretsaw. Let there be no misunderstanding; Alex de Vrede has never thought about being renewing rather painting from an irresistible urge to paint. Using the fretsaw to manufacture his designs this does not take anywhere close as much time as the actual painting does. His tromp l'oeils are of a unique perfection.