Allison Sommers is seemingly everywhere these days. She has been featured recently in Juxtapoz and Hi-Fructose and has upcoming shows with Adult Swim at G1988 (Jan 13-Feb 4) and ThinkSpace (Jan 7-28th) We recently had a chance to do a quick interview with Allison to talk about her past influences, hand eye coordination and of course her latest print here with 1xRUN: Reliquary. Read on for the interview along with with photos of Allison’s previous and upcoming works including a sneak peek at her upcoming ThinkSpace show.
1xRUN: Let’s talk about Reliquary, is there anything immediate you would like us to highlight that would help collectors know all they can about this piece?
Allison Sommers: The fellow in Reliquary is dying for a little bit of excitement, anything to distract him from all his dreadfully dull worshippers…
1xRUN: Tell us how the idea and execution of this print came about?
Allison Sommers: He grew out of a tiny doodle, like most of them do.
1xRUN: How long did the piece take?
Allison Sommers: About a month.
1xRUN: What is unique about this piece?
Allison Sommers: There are a lot of tiny moments going on in the piece– lots of small stuff to look at.
1xRUN: Why should people buy this print?
Allison Sommers: I don’t offer prints very much, especially one this size!
1xRUN: Describe this print in one gut reaction word for us.
Allison Sommers: sausaged.
1xRUN: When did you first start making art?
Allison Sommers: When I figured out eye-hand coordination.
1xRUN: What was your first piece?
Allison Sommers: I remember a play-doh nesting duck…
1xRUN: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
Allison Sommers: Lately, a lot of dixieland and hot jazz.
1xRUN: What artists inspired you early on?
Allison Sommers: Mucha, Dürer and Michelangelo
1xRUN: What artists inspire you now?
Allison Sommers: Beuys, Dix and Rackham
1xRUN: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be?
Allison Sommers: Do Ho Suh.
1xRUN: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be?
Allison Sommers: Beuys or Dieter Roth.
1xRUN: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Allison Sommers: I’m not entirely sure but it might have been a print by Jeremy and Allyson Mellberg-Taylor.
1xRUN: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Allison Sommers: A felted pig from Cretur Fetur.
1xRUN: What else do you have in the works currently?
Allison Sommers: I’m about to have a solo at Thinkspace open on the 7th of January. See sneak peek photos below or find more info here.
You can find Allison’s website here.
– 1xRUN