Allison Svoboda, Biography

Finding the edge between intuitive and deliberate mark making, Allison’s works are both large-scale yet ethereal. Her ink painted collage works are intricate brush stokes layered to create sculptural works. These paintings based on fractal geometry and the power of nature are also translated into installations on metal, glass and cut paper. In 2015, she received the Hemera fellowship to study Zen Buddhism in Japan, which further influences her work. Her sculpture commissions include Helical Om, an interactive steel sculpture for the City of Chicago in 2018 and Helix Labyrinth, a multi layered aluminum structure for the Carnegie Art Center Sculpture Biennial, New Albany, Indiana. In 2017 she completed Vortices, a hand cut tyvek installation in Nashville Airport’s terminal C skylight. In addition, her wall mounted sculptural mandalas have been commissioned for numerous commercial and residential installations throughout the world including Hilton, Barbados, London House, Chicago, Ritz Carlton, Abu Dhabi, and Intercontinental, Guatemala City. In 2021, she has been selected as artist in residence for Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China.

Allison Svoboda, Artist Statement

Organic patterns and forms found in nature have an instinctive draw. The theory of fractal geometry; infinite layers of self- similar shapes repeated in every living thing, hold an endless fascination for me. Plants, feathers, skeletons; this enormous energy in nature influences my work.

I work intuitively through thousands of brushstrokes creating hundreds of small paintings. I then collate the work, tearing out images that work together. When I find compositions that intrigue me, I then delve into the longer process of collage, taking time to digest the image.

When the composition is complete, like with Japanese Suiseki or a Chinese Scholar’s rock, each viewer has his own experience as new images emerge from the completed arrangement. The ephemeral quality of the paper and meditative aspect of the brushwork evoke a Buddhist mandala. I hope by viewing the work one is brought into this meditative dream state, searching for peace.