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The Art World in Focus
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Alma Allen

ALMA ALLEN

Some Eyes Mendes Wood DM 27 May–27 August 2023 São Paulo
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Press Release

Spanning a wide range of materials including bronze, parota wood, various types of marble, obsidian and stalagmite, Allen’s work retains a singularly unique energy and original aesthetic. From sinuously thin bronze shapes to magmatic and smooth marble outpourings, Allen’s biomorphic forms seem to rise up effortlessly from the artist’s chosen material. Allen’s artistic trajectory has seen him progress from humble origins, selling hand-carved miniatures on the street in Soho, NY, to his breakthrough moment of recognition after his acclaimed presentation at the Whitney Biennial of 2014.

Largely self taught, there is a spontaneity and energy to Allen’s work that seems to bear little connection to the artistic movements of this time. In fact they have more in common, formally and perhaps spiritually, with the vast expanses of territory and the monolithic natural formations that seem to have punctuated his life: Utah, where he grew up; Joshua Tree, California, where he lived for several years; and Tepoztlán, Mexico, where he currently has his studio, about 50 miles out from Mexico City. Rocks, branches and unspecified biomorphic entities that exude a kind of prehistoric energy dominate his shows, their size and mass undermined by their apparent levity and effortless presence.

Alma Allen (1970, Utah, USA) lives and works in Tepoztlán, Mexico.

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About the Artist

Alma Allen, a Utah-born, Mexico-based sculptor, selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, is known for work characterised by fluid, biomorphic forms. Carved from natural materials such as wood, stone, and bronze, he merges traditional hand-carving techniques with advanced robotic technology to create works that feel both ancient and modern. Allen’s sculptures evoke a mysterious life force, blending tactile softness with monumental scale, exploring the intersection of material, form, and the intangible presence of objects.

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Also Exhibiting at Mendes Wood DM

All Exhibitions
Lotus L. Kang
LOTUS L. KANG Casket Mendes Wood DM 27 June–6 September 2026 Germantown
Kenji Ide
KENJI IDE Texture of Time Mendes Wood DM 27 June–6 September 2026 Germantown
About the Gallery

Intellectually rigorous, politically active, and highly conceptual, the programme of contemporary art gallery Mendes Wood DM places an emphasis on critical conversation, working to embrace the individuality of each artist while also supporting the discovery of intersections between practices that might initially seem disparate.

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Address
Rua Barra Funda 216
01152 – 000
São Paulo
Brazil
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri, 11am - 7pm
Sat, 10am - 5pm
(1)
São Paulo Rua Barra Funda 216, 01152 – 000
Mendes Wood DM contemporary art gallery in Sao Paulo Brazil
Mendes Wood DM
Rua Barra Funda 216, 01152 – 000, São Paulo, Brazil
+55 113 081 1735
http://www.mendeswooddm.com

Opening hours
Mon - Fri, 11am - 7pm
Sat, 10am - 5pm
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