Photography by Olena Lysenko
Statement
Alison Underwood
Born 1992, Kentucky
Lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee
Underwood’s work spans most 2-D practices, including painting, printmaking, collage, and digital media. In her practice, the artist develops a visual vocabulary to examine the psychology of desire. Imagery of ropes, hair, disembodied limbs, fabric, plants, portals and flat geometries dominate her image making, bringing a visual dimension to the fear and anticipation that exists at the threshold of choice. She is interested in the tension that permeates moments like those before one boards a train, sends a text, takes a bite, leans into a kiss. And even more so – in those that are not culturally sanctioned, appetites that flirt with the realm of the grotesque, or demand a certain sacrifice in their pursuit…
Education
2017 MA History of Design & Curatorial Studies, Parsons School of Design & Cooper Hewitt:
Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, NY
2015 BA Studio Arts, The University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Solo Exhibitions
2020 “Objects”, Landing Contemporary Art, Digital Exhibition, Charleston, SC
“The Impossibility of Never”, Landing Contemporary Art, New York, NY
Tandem Exhibitions
2021 “Strange Reflections”, Modfellows, Nashville, TN
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 “Radical Thoughts”, MOCAN (Museum of Contemporary Art Nashville), Nashville, TN
“Flat File Friday”, Deanna Evans Projects, Digital Showcase, New York, NY
2019 “Rendering Likeness Volume II”, La Bodega Gallery, New York, NY
2018 “People’s Choice Show”, The Green Gallery, New York, NY
2017 “Staff Art Show”, Cooper Hewitt: Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, NY
“Growth”, American Design Club, NYC x Design, New York, NY
Awards
2021 Artist of the Week, The Nashville Sign, Downtown Broadway, Nashville, TN
2017 Fellowship, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Graphic Design Department,
New York, NY
2014 Scholarship Award, Governor’s School for the Arts, Lexington, KY
Scholastic Silver Key Award, Lexington, KY
Publications
2019 Gay Mag, published by Roxane Gay & Medium
2017 Anamesa Journal, published by NYU
2016 Objective Journal, published by Parsons & Cooper Hewitt
Anamesa Journal, published by NYU, Cover Publication