I PROMISE NOT TO LOOK AWAY Installation

Allison Harrell is a contemporary artist and photographer exploring human imperatives, cultural inspiration and combinations of mediums. American born in 1983, she was raised by mother, educator Gwendolyn Harrell in Knoxville, TN. With focus in dark room photography and sculpture, she pursued scientific and premedical topics and competitive athletic participation, all of which continue to influence her subject matter. She completed a BA in 2005 from Maryville College, TN. Preceding graduate studies in San Francisco, she enrolled in a therapy program for eating disordered women in Florida. Distance from childhood influences helped consecrate a lifelong practice of therapy and psychological fitness and contributes to ongoing themes of reflection, healing and social accountability. At Academy of Art University, she created stylized portraits of similarly aged females including vintage, recycled garments as alternative self portraiture. Sh furthered her painting practice in oils influenced by Impressionists, Post Impressionists and Fauvists.   She continues to employ herself as a test subject for insights of healing and personal activism. Following completion of her MFA in Photography in 2010, she began work on fine and commercial art projects in New York City. Her 2017 debut solo exhibition in New York SoHo gallery Ward Nasse and 2018 MVVO AD ART Show at Sotheby's, NY led to subsequent exhibitions in New York, Paris, Unite Kingdom, Austria, Monaco, Spain and Italy. She lives in New York with husband Andre and son Andre James Mistier. They founded Gather, an alternative art space.