Since she was a child, artist Allison Meriwether has been drawing and creating “visual stories” that pay particular attention to people and faces. Starting with figures in oils in her early 20s, Allison began a more intentional exploration of the female form with a focus on the natural curves of the body and hands and “how posture, expression, and the smallest physical cues can unravel entire emotional narratives.” She has always enjoyed the “slowness” of oil that allows time for layering and reworking. Allison also works in colored pencil, which has a similar process of building layers and adding luminosity.
Having always been fascinated by the way people (especially women) inhabit space, she became more aware of subtle details in a person’s body, like the tilt of a head, the set of the shoulders, or the positioning of the hands, that can reveal complex inner stories. Her larger pieces cause the figures to share the room with you, while her smaller pieces feel like quiet studies that offer their own kind of intimacy. Both compel the viewer to relate to the body on the canvas – “impossible to overlook, yet vulnerable in their stillness.” Are you confronting it, observing it, or possibly even recognizing yourself in it?
What’s next for Allison Meriwether? Along with individual works in a few galleries, Allison is in the early stages of building a new body of work with the intentions of a solo exhibit. She continues to have work on display at the Maker Exchange (located between the downtown Marriott Knoxville and The Tennessean Hotel) and also has few commissions in the works – and is always open for more! Having already done some murals, Allison would love the opportunity to incorporate her figurative and portrait work into a mural.
As Knoxville’s art scene continues to grow, Allison credits local organizations like Dogwood Arts and the Arts and Culture Alliance for being instrumental in providing opportunities for artists to exhibit work and engage with the community, as well as advocating for the important role that art plays in our collective well-being. Their support has helped Allison and many other creators feel empowered to contribute to the Knoxville’s cultural fabric. Financial support is vital to sustaining these programs, creating accessible opportunities, and ensuring that artists have the resources they need to thrive here in Knoxville. Allison truly feels that “investing in the visual arts is an investment in the life of the community itself – in its beauty, its resilience, and its future.”
See more of Allison’s work at AllisonMeriwetherArt.com and @a.Merarts on social media.