Meet This Artist: Allison Tierney is exploring the objectness of paint

Artist Allison Tierney is known for applying paint in a “non-traditional”style. But paint isn’t the only thing she is applying to her canvases.

“My pieces often employ found items that are embedded within the frame and these objects bring with them histories and stories of their past,” she said. Even the scraps from her paintings get recycled.

“I have an ongoing series of small collages that utilize my ‘studio waste’ from other works,” she said. “This can be anything from fabric scraps to dried paint to small pieces of wood.” She is also working on paintings that involve large decorative picture frames that will be framed within a canvas.

“My work is ultimately an exploration of materials and objects and how they define our relationships to home,” said Allison.

The popular TV show “Love It or List It” took notice and included her work on the walls of one of its featured homes. “I had four collages on panel in an episode titled ‘Mid-Century Maternity.’ You can only see the work very briefly on the show, which was a bummer. The coolest part was dropping off the work with my friend and fellow artist Katy Mixon, who also has a painting in the show, because we were able to tour the home mid-renovations.” The episode will re-air on August 15 at 5 pm on HGTV.

You can get more than a fleeting glimpse of her work at these gallery shows:

“MELD,” Spectre Arts in Durham, N.C. through August 5, 2016.
“Subverbal,” a premiere show for Subverbal Collective, Allcott Gallery at the Hanes Art Center in Chapel Hill, August 12, 6-9 pm.
Monster Drawing Rally, live drawing with 72 artists at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, Aug. 26, 6-9 pm.
Instructors Show at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, opening Sept. 9, 6-9 pm.

Allison is also teaching four classes this fall at The ArtsCenter:
Introduction to Acrylics
Intermediate Acrylics
Basic Drawing & Design I
Basic Drawing & Design II.
Registration is now open.
She earned her BFA from Winthrop University and her MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she won the Top Prize for Outstanding MFA Work. She is a 2015-2016 recipient of the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant through the Chatham Arts Council and the Durham Arts Council. Area artists are invited to apply for the 2016 Emerging Artist’s grant. The deadline is September 23. Learn more.

From the Artist:

Full name: Allison Grace Tierney

I live in: Pittsboro, NC

I grew up in: Charleston, SC

My art in three words: object-oriented, home, color.

Me in three words: messy, encouraging, (somewhat) controlling.

I am inspired by: sustainability, nature, the home and what objects we surround ourselves with within the home, the mundane, object-ness.

My earliest art memory is: probably doing some sort of craft activity with my mom. The one that stands out the most is making dream catchers. I was a pretty resourceful kid so anything I could get my hands on would be turned into an art activity and that has translated very largely into the work I make today.

Some jobs I’ve had: My first job was working at Chick-fil-a. I waited tables all throughout college and then I was a substitute teacher for two years after I graduated. While in grad school at UNC I started working at Piedmont Biofarm here in Pittsboro and I continue to work there now. Currently I’m working at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro teaching adult drawing and painting classes and youth arts classes (summer camps and their after-school program) and I teach summer camp at Learning Outside (a program in partnership with the Triangle Land Conservancy).

On my bedside table you’ll find: Martin Duberman’s “Black Mountain: An Exploration in Community” and Sally Mann’s “Hold Still” (both of which I have yet to read), a lamp, some hand lotion and a water bottle.

My perfect day: Not waking up to an alarm and leisurely enjoying a cup of coffee, doing something active and preferably outside, studio time, cooking dinner, reading, company from friends.

The next thing on my bucket list is: I definitely have a travel itch at the moment and want to finally explore Europe.

My favorite spots in Chatham County are: Small B & B for breakfast (French toast!) and the used book store (Circle City Books & Music) and the antique shops in the downtown Pittsboro strip.

Three Chatham County artists I admire: I love having the work of Mark Hewitt in my home and I’m often there helping out with the kiln openings and sales. I’m also very fond of Gina Boyle who makes beautiful mosaic art and Heather Gerni who works on intuitive paintings.