Artist Alex Eckener was born in the Northern German town of Flensburg on August 21, 1870, where he grew up with two sisters and one brother. The brother was Dr. Hugo Eckener, the world renowned aviator (Zeppelin pilot), the first man to circumnavigate the world in an airship; he was also a friend of two American presidents, Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The first teacher of the budding artist was the well known painter of portraits and landscapes, Jacob Nöbbe.

Many of his works are now owned by German museums and private collectors. He also illustrated two books. Today his work is being exhibited at museums and galleries all over Germany.

He died in 1944 at the age of 74. The beautiful old home in Flensburg, Germany where he grew up was made into a museum which exhibits his works and memorabilia of Dr. Hugo Eckener. It is now called the "Eckener Haus" in honor of the contributions of these men to art and the science of flight.