Alison Saar
| Alison Saar | |
|---|---|
"Snake Man", color woodcut and lithograph by Alison Saar, 1994, Honolulu Museum of Art Spalding House
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| Born |
Allison M. Saar February 5, 1956 Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Scripps College, Otis Art Institute |
| Known for | Sculpture, installation art |
Alison Saar (born February 5, 1956) is an American sculptor, painter and installation artist whose work explores themes of African cultural diaspora and spirituality.
Saar was born in Los Angeles, California to a well-known African American artist Betye Saar, who was involved in the 1970s Black Arts Movement, and Richard Saar, a former Coast Guard combat artist and art conservationist. Both parents encouraged their children to look at a wide range of art, so as children, Saar and her siblings were given books on art and were taken to area museums. They also saw Outsider Art, such as Simon Rodia's Watts Towers in Los Angeles and Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village in Simi Valley. Saar's love of nature, intense interest in vernacular folk art and admiration of artists' ability to create beauty through the use of discarded items stemmed from her upbringing and this unique exposure to these experiences and types of art. During high school, Alison began assisting her father in his restoration work. Dealing with artifacts from different cultures—Chinese frescoes, Egyptian mummies, and Pre-Columbian and African art—taught Alison about properties of various materials, techniques, and aesthetics. This exposure to other cultures sparked a curiosity in her that inspired her to continue to learn about them.
Saar received a dual degree in art history and studio art from Scripps College (Claremont, CA) in 1978, having studied with Dr. Samella Lewis. Her thesis focused on African-American folk art. She received an MFA from Otis College of Art and Design (Los Angeles, CA) in 1981. Saar and her mother Betye Saar have produced artworks together, in addition to their distinguished separate careers. Saar realizes that the exposure her mother gave her to metaphysical and spiritual art traditions influenced her art style which incorporates cultural and personal influences to "reflect the plurality of her own experiences."
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