As a self-taught artist, Utah-born Alma Allen makes hand-carved sculptures that reflect an intuitive handling of material and are usually characterized by gentle, organic curves. After moving to New York City in 1993, Allen began carving small objects and selling them from an ironing board on the streets of Soho, attracting interest from established designers and collectors. After nearly a decade, he moved to Los Angeles and began designing furniture and tabletop objects, showcasing the ability to create fine art as well as functional and decorative works.
Allen prefers to leave his pieces unnamed, attempting to distance himself from the works and focus on the materials used–often bronze, gold, marble, wood, and stone. Although he began his artistic career making small sculptures, he moved on to bigger pieces after 2006 when he developed a debilitating case of carpal tunnel syndrome, which prevented him from using his hand tools. He began using a giant robot that could translate his designs into three-dimensional objects, and allowed him to work at a much larger scale. In 2017, Allen moved to Tepoztlán, Mexico where he continues to create his enigmatic sculptures.
This piece represents a transitional time in his career, and is a rare precursor to his later, larger-scale and better known work. This work, in contrast, is more intimate, yet exudes playfulness and charm. Although small, it conveys integrity, evidenced by its weight and the quality of the materials and carving. It is one of ten small Alma Allen sculptures donated to LACMA in 2022.
Alexa Ramirez, Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellow, Decorative Arts and Design, 2022
