ESTABLISHED ARTIST: US sculptor Alma Allen seen at Blum & Poe, Los Angeles

For that exhibition I processed the same as usual: at first I go meet with the art with no infos about the artist or whatever, if it’s good I take the decision to tell about it. And only then I go get informations about the artist. In that particular case I couldn’t believe what I read. It says:

Alma Allen
Born in 1970

Education
Self-taught

Lives and works in Joshua Tree, CA

What? Alma Allen is 45, he is “Self-taught”, he lives in the middle of the Desert, his exhibition at Blum & Poe is only the sixth Solo Show in 24 years and this guy makes the most amazing sculptures that I have ever seen since last Wang Keping exhibition at Zurcher’s. What a story!!

It looks like despite the power of a worldwide communication, despite the Internet, this incredible artist escaped the meshes of the Art market.

Sculpture at its most

The sculptor doesn’t sculpt only wood, no no he does also Bronze and Marble. All with the same talent. Each material is sculpted at its most.

Wood: Allen keeps from the wood all its essence. He transforms the wood just a little to enhance its inherent beauty.

 

Marble: Allen works with the material up to a total control of it as a horse rider would do with a wild horse. And the result shows smooth and tamed distortions.

 

Bronze: Instead of showing a strong heavy piece of bronze, like sculptors usually do, Allen tortures his bronze into a “liquid” version. It is light and shiny with that gold color.

 

 No doubt this artist has all the ingredients that makes at bAM an Ultimate artist. He is as big as British sculptor Tony Craig and Chinese sculptor Wang Kepping.

I would have a wish: please Dear Alma Allen continue to stay away from the Art market in order to pursue your magical body of work. BCh