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Allison Cortson  Los Angeles, CA


* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.


About Allison


Allison Cortson was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1978 and now lives in Los Angeles. She received a BFA from UCLA in 2001, and an MFA from California Institute of the Arts two years later. Her practice is informed by an interest to investigate the known world through science.

Most recently, she has explored the representation of human beings, in a series titled Dust Paintings. She photographs each subject in their home and then, over a period of months, gathers the vacuum bags full of dust from in their home.

‘Dust consists 70% of human skin. It arrives as a remnant of our own existence and degeneration,’ Cortson explains. She renders the human figure in oil, and their environment solely out of dust gathered from their home. This includes pets. Their particles, too, are represented in the dust.


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Allison appears in the following Top 10 lists


'California'

'2011'


10 of 28 reactions displayed


"Strange. Maybe it symbolizes something. The human condition in a world of black and white"

"dust is it? you've done wonderful things with it. have fun wear a mask"

"awesome. I really enjoyed looking at these pieces."

"The concept for this art project is really cool, and the pieces are well put together, but the final asthetic that's created when it all comes together is not appealing to me. I'm not quite sure what it is, it could be the subjects, their expressions, their clothing. I'm assuming the subjects are the artist's friends so I hope not to offend anyone, but I if walked into a place and saw either of those two sitting around on a couch I'd probably bounce in heartbeat. Clearly the artist is talented, so keep doing your thing...scuse me, thang."

"Very nice. like the mood it sets,"

"beautiful and repulsive at the same time..."

"I enjoyed this painting very much. I thought the background was very soft and languid. And after reading about its makeup, I found it very...interesting as well. The subject matter of the background fit the look of the person it enveloped quite well. This subject was striking. I will be looking for more of Allison's work."

"It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised by new work I see. I think there's a longstanding reputation building here, all the best to you Allison."

"DUST, YOU WERE ON MY BOOKSHELF, YOU WERE ON MY LAMP SHADE NOW YOUR ON ARTIST OD THE DAY! HOORAH. YOUR CREATIVE WITH A WIT, AND WE LIKE YOUR DUSTY CREATIONS, EVERY DUSTY BIT."

"It reminds me a lot of the movie A Scanner Darkly. One of my favourite movies, too."


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