Allison Massari's powerful, intimate, and boldly imagined artwork beckons the viewer - sometimes playfully, sometimes intensely- always with a poignancy that deeply touches the heart. The vulnerability and honesty expressed in her self portraits, the energy and life that flow through her collages, and the unflinching strength and intelligence that can be found in all of her work, show Massari's commitment to exposing herself in order to find the common thread that connects us as humans.
Primarily a painter, Massari uses "whatever is necessary" to bring her work to life - an interdisciplinary mixture of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and collage. Largely known for her self-portraits and her portrayal of the female figure, Massari offers, "I’ve always been deeply interested in understanding people - and I’m fascinated with the human experience. The self-portrait is the most expeditious pathway for me to reach a vulnerability and an honesty to express myself spiritually, and to connect to universal emotions of the human condition."
After receiving her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, Massari went on to receive an integrated masters degree by combining MFA programs from Parsons School of Design in painting, and the School of Visual Arts in illustration in New York City. Throughout the country, museum exhibitions and private art collectors have embraced Massari's work. Her collage work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, FL. Her art has earned prestigious honors including awards and exhibits in the Tampa Museum of Art, St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Arts Club Gallery of New York City. She has received two Artist-in-Residence Awards from Anderson Ranch Art Center, and was also named Helena Rubenstein Scholar. Commissioned paintings from numerous corporations include Lockheed Martin, US Airways, AAA Motor Club & General Mills.
In 1998, Massari nearly lost her life in a fiery car accident, which has greatly influenced her life and her work. She views the accident as a tremendous gift, allowing her to find her strength, take charge of her beliefs, and live life by her own rules. She arose from the experience - literally a phoenix from the flames.
The same year of her accident, Massari founded an art camp for young teen burn survivors, "The Roger Pepper Adventure Camps" in Crested Butte, CO. Roger Pepper was the brave man who pulled Massari from her car, saving her life and risking his own.
Currently, Massari lives in Tiburon CA, where she is consistently creating artwork and living life with excitement, ferocity, and vigor. Her artwork and her life are a testimony to the opportunities that life gives us, if we are open to receive its gifts.
Education
School of Visual Arts MFA, Illustration. NYC. 1993.
Parsons School of Design Fall Term - MFA Painting Program. NYC. 1991.
Rhode Island School of Design BFA, Illustration. Providence, RI. 1988.
Chateau De LaNapoule Drawing/Painting. LaNapoule, France. 1987.
Fine Arts Academy of Brugge. Painting. Brugge, Belgium. 1987.
Vanderbilt University Liberal Arts. Nashville, TN. 1983-1985.
Selected Collections
Museum
Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, FL
Corporate
Lockheed-Martin Orlando, FL
US Airways, Inc. Palm Beach, FL
General Mills Corporate Headquarters. Orlando, FL
AAA Motor Club Corporate Headquarters. Orlando, FL
Barnett Bank Orlando, FL
Foley and Lardner Law Firm Orlando, FL
Derby Lane St. Petersburg, FL
Orlando Board of Education Orlando, FL
Private
The Vatican Art Collection Vatican City
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Armour Wilson, WY
Mr. and Mrs. James MacDougald St. Petersburg , FL
Ms. Harriet Silverman Washington, DC
Dr. Sylvia Carra Tampa, FL
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. Corba Chicago, IL
Mr. and Mrs. William P. Vareika Newport, RI
Mr. and Mrs. Blaire Cullpepper Winter Park, FL.
Mr. and Mrs. Arkady Goshinsky New York City, NY
Ms. Elizabeth Vincent Scottsdale, AZ
Mr. & Mrs. Vance Arnett Saftey Harbor, FL
Mr. & Mrs. William Mitchell Austin, TX
Ms. Carol Upham St. Petersburg Beach, FL
Honors and Awards
KWMR Radio Interview on 90.5 FM . Susannah Baldwin interviews Allison Massari on “Parent Talk”. Marin, California 5/09
Artist-in-Residence. Anderson Ranch Art Center. 6 month award. 10/03 – 4/04. Snowmass, CO.
KAJX Radio Interview. “Jim Baker Interviews Allison Massari”. Artist series. Aspen, CO. April 14th, 2004.
Publications: Family Circle Magazine. Featured story about the artist’s life. April 2, 2002.
St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. Second Place Award - All Mediums. Second Annual Fairly Lillith Celebration of Women in the Arts. St. Petersburg, FL. 2001.
St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts Dinner with Allison Massari. At the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hascall. Stuart Society Dinner with the artist and private solo art show. 2001.
Tampa Review University of Tampa Publication. #19 Fall/Winter Issue, 2000.
German Radio show interview with Klaus Schilling. Featured guest interviewed about artwork and inspirational life stories. November, 2000.
Soble Purchase Award 1998 Art Festival Beth-El. St. Petersburg, FL.
Smart Choices Grant FL State/City Grant. Mural Painted to encourage Peace. Participation included “At Risk Youth”. Completed on the one-year anniversary of the 1996 riots.
St. Petersburg, FL. 1997.
Studio Assistant to Ruth Kligman. Former studio of Jackson Pollack. NYC, 1995.
Helena Rubenstein Scholar Parsons School of Design. NYC, 1991.
Henry Clews Foundation Scholarship LaNapoule, France. 1987.
Florida National Honors Society Art Exhibit, "Best of Show” Tallahassee, FL. 1983.
Selected Exhibitions
Museum Exhibitions
St. Petersburg Museum Of Fine Arts. The 2nd Annual Fairly Lillith Celebration of Woman in the Arts. Awarded 2nd Place. St. Petersburg, FL. May-June 2001.
Tampa Museum. “Undercurrent Overview II” Tampa, FL. June - August, 1998.
Solo Exhibitions
Winfield Gallery. Carmel, CA. February-March, 2009.
Belvedere Tiburon Heritage & Arts Commission. Tiburon, CA. May-June, 2008.
Ambiance Gallery "I’ll Tell You A Secret". St. Petersburg, FL. November - December, 2000.
Zodiac Group/Salvador Dali Museum "Apropos". St. Petersburg, FL. December, 1997.
Tavern on the Green Annual Fund-raiser for RCIP. New York City. May, 1995.
UBU Repertory Theater Gallery Off Broadway. "The Cage". NYC. March-April, 1995.
Gallery 401 Providence, RI. 1989.
Group Exhibitions
Anderson Ranch Gallery Snowmass, CO. December, 2008.
Mina Dresden Gallery “One Night Stand”. San Francisco, CA June, 2008.
Oxbow Napa, CA June, 2007.
Chico Paper CO Gallery Chico, CA 2006.
AAF Contemporary Art Fair NYC 2005.
Anderson Ranch Art Center Snowmass, CO. April, 2004.
Kingdon Alan Gallery St. Petersburg, FL. 2004.
Anderson Ranch Gallery Snowmass, CO. December, 2003.
Art Beth-El St. Petersburg, FL. 1998,2001,2002,2003,2004,2007,2008,2009.
The Von Liebig Art Center Naples Art Association. "Refiguring the 90s". Naples, FL. October - December, 1999.
Dragonfly Gallery Martha’s Vineyard, MA. June, 1998.
Gallery 421 "Chakras". Fort Lauderdale, FL. April - May, 1998.
Cervenka - McLaughlin Gallery Gulfport, FL. April, 1998.
Salt Creek Art Gallery "Art Attack". St. Petersburg, FL. October, 1997.
Sarasota Visual Arts Center Sarasota, FL. September - October, 1997.
MMC Gallery "Marvelous". NYC, November-December, 1995.
SVA Gallery NYC May-June, 1993.
N.Y.C. Art Director’s Club. September, 1992.
Gallery 1792 Winter Park, FL. January-February, 1991.
Bennett Gallery "Art’s Future". Orlando, FL. April, 1990.
Wood’s Gerry Gallery "The Indignant Eye". Providence, RI. January, 1989.
National Art’s Club, NYC 89th Annual National Watercolor Exhibition. NYC. May, 1988.
Performance Art
Currican Theater Writer, Director, Performer in "Live Self-Portraits". NYC. June, 1995.
Teaching
Rhode Island School of Design Guest Lecturer. November, 1996.
Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education Teaching Assistant-Drawing.1988.
The St. Petersburg Center for the Arts Advanced Watercolor, Oil, Drawing. St. Petersburg, FL. 1997-1998.
Florida Gulf Coast Art Center Belleair, FL. 1998.