A biography of Allison Smith

Allison Smith is an American sculpture artist who lives in New York and focuses on creating pieces that demonstrate how political meaning can reside in forms which are considered beautiful while using history as a way to comment on current events affecting our lives.

Who is Allison Smith?

Background Alison Smith was born in Manassas, Virginia in 1972. During her education, she received a BA in Psychology from the New School of Social Research before going on to complete a BFA in sculpture from Parson School of Design, and then an MFA from Yale University School of Art. Exhibitions Allison Smith has produced a number of solo exhibitions in Denver, San Francisco, New York, Massachusetts, and Indianapolis, to name a few. Hobby horse Continually demonstrating her unique and innovative take on art, Allison Smith produces shows that ask probing questions. The hobby horse exhibition is one such show that achieves this. Standing more than nine feet tall and complete with a handmade bridle, horsehair and glass eyes, the hobby horse is an example of a traditional quintessential child's toy. The performance which saw Smith sitting astride the oversized hobby horse during the exhibition's opening illustrates the militaristic spirit of the plaything, while asking questions about equestrian statuary's commemoration of bloodshed. The Notion Nanny The Notion Nanny is a touring project that started in 2005 in the UK. It was created with London-based curatorial partnership B+B, Sophie Hope, and Sarah Carrington. During Victorian England, the Notion Nanny dolls present the image of a peddler woman carrying a basket overflowing with various objects. While there is little information about the dolls, it is thought that they commemorated the social custom of itinerant workers who travelled throughout the countryside bringing with them home remedies, news and information, sewing equipment and household goods. During the project, the Notion Nanny grew to include public performance programmes, a number of residencies before ending with a travelling exhibition that stopped in Cumbria, Shropshire, London, New England, New York, and the Bay Area.

The Saatchi Gallery

Showcasing at the Saatchi Gallery In 2005, Allison Smith first showcased her solo exhibition of the Notion Nanny, while in 2006, she went on to perform her solo exhibition of the hobby horse. The objects that Allison Smith employs and the performances that she does restage important moments in American history which highlights current political issues. The range of elements that she utilises in her projects, for example, uniforms, dolls, and quilts, are made by hand and require an intensive labour process. In essence, Smith produces exhibitions that are highly evocative, beautiful, insightful, and probing public art projects for the public to appreciate and enjoy.