Check out Allison Lee’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Lee.

Allison, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I started painting at age 14 while attending art school. My majors in high school were fashion and textile design. I studied visual arts in college and went on to study audiovisual art/animation. My mixed media illustrations especially embody this versatility.

Having grown up in Belgium – a country full of contrasts and home to many surrealist artists – I moved to the US in 2014 and currently reside in Phoenix. My work has been in several galleries across the United States since then, and I’m always working on new projects and ideas.

I spent most of my early childhood with my grandmother, who ran several businesses, including a funeral home. Visiting her Victorian house, being surrounded by antiques, coffins, and stories made an impact on my work. My love of history and being able to see the beauty through and in the darkness are reflected in my subjects.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I fuel my work with both antagonistic and appeasing motives.

Duality is what is in me. Contrasts will always be what I breathe out.

I am torn by romanticism and existentialism. My pieces are both seductive and repulsive, filled with symbolism and hidden layers. As unsolvable mysteries, they trigger your buried away, subconscious passions and emotions.

My body of work includes oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media illustrations and even some animation/audio-visual artwork.

My art, as eldritch images you can’t escape. Nostalgic, melancholic memories that are popping up in a dream state. The viewer doesn’t know if he should feel invited or scared. Inspired by artists like Christian Boltanski and Anselm Kiefer, my work invites you to stand still and wonder but leaves you with an unnerving sense of urgency.

What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Always stay true to yourself. As Cyril Connolly described it so perfectly: ‘It is better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.’

Don’t compare yourself to others too much. Don’t give up, and most importantly: believe in yourself. As cliche it may sound, I can not emphasize it enough. If you don’t believe in yourself or your work, then how can you expect others to do so.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see most of my work on Instagram (@allisonartlee). The best way to support me is to contact me directly on there, or through e-mail. I can then tell you more information about a specific piece or what gallery is representing it. Another thing to be on the lookout for is the new Patreon page I will be starting very soon. I will post updates about the actual launch on social media. It’s a very exciting new project, where I’ll work together with a musician. We will combine art and music, and you’ll be able to catch a glimpse out of our personal lives, with lots of exclusive images, behind the scenes footage and work in progress.

Contact Info:

• Email: allisonartlee@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/allisonartlee
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/allisonartlee

 

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