Lois Lambert Gallery presents Realm of Wonder, the most recent exhibition of work by artist Allen Harrison.
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 15th, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Harrison’s artistic journey is marked by his continued infatuation with skyscapes. In this exhibition, he follows his inspiration into the world of Thangka, an ancient form of Tibetan art depicting a Buddhist deity. Harrison’s fascination with the Tibetan Thangka tradition is rooted in its aesthetic qualities rather than its religious or cultural significance. He begins by tracing these images onto acetate, then meticulously cuts and collages these elements onto his canvas to completely cover the surface. Once Harrison starts painting, the figures are obscured within his compositions, though he is careful to never completely lose the Thangka imagery. Harrison works on each of his paintings for at least five months. Every day, he works and reworks the canvas until he is sure he has taken the painting far enough to capture the image in his mind.
Sycamore Cove, oil on canvas, 48” x 48”
Allen Harrison’s career has spanned over 40 years with more than 30 solo exhibitions throughout the United States. Harrison is included in the collections of Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, Architectural Digest Publishing Corporation, General Electric, 20th Century Fox, Lowes Corporation, Bank of America Corporation, the Arco Collection, and Goldman-Sachs Los Angeles. Harrison is part of the permanent collection at the Portland Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Byer Museum of Art. Harrison taught Drawing and Painting at the University of California Berkeley and Pasadena City College for many years.