Marcus McAllister

Gallery (Crossing Borders exhibition) & Artist Biography

Marcus McAllister (b.1968) is a Parisian-based American artist. The Little Rock, Arkansas, native has resided in the European cultural hub for over a decade, where his established weekly “Tea” takes place in the Belleville atelier – guests are always welcomed with a friendly smile, along with tea, cake and a fabulous selection of recent works.

McAllister has a prolific output, incorporating mixed media sketchbooks and acrylic paintings (on canvas, wood and paper). The volume of pieces combined with a gregarious personality has resulted in representation on three continents. Indeed, in 2009, he had three simultaneously running solo exhibitions, in Paris, London and Baton Rouge (Louisiana).

The artist’s practice is sketchbook-centred, in that, for more than twenty years, the artist has carried a sketchbook with him wherever he goes and for however long a trip is, even for a quick trip to the corner store. His eyes are always open and 

he finds himself stopping and sketching throughout journeys, short and long. He also starts ideas on sketchbook pages and completes them later, adding colours and materials. Now on sketchbook number 78 (he numbers each book as well as individual pages), McAllister takes out selected pages and sells as originals. An internship the artist did at the Center for Book Arts in New York (1995) allowed him to measure his sketchbook against the practice of book artists and confirmed his impression that his sketchbook is not an art object in itself but rather, is a tool for apprehending the world around and within the artist. McAllister produces a high-quality colour photocopy of both sides of each page that is cut and placed in the empty gap – completely resealing the cut so that, in concept, the sketchbook remains whole as originally produced. In 2010, a book titled Estomac onirique, edited by Alicia LeBlanc, was published to present the artist’s sketchbook discipline (available to buy on Amazon).

Marcus McAllister’s acrylic paintings are developments and expansions of original sketchbook ideas. His paintings present dream-like depictions of figures, characters, animals and cities. Sometimes there are recognisable forms and places, originally depicted from life and from memory, and sometimes, depictions are those of the artist’s own creation. Regardless of individual bodies of work, the artist has a characteristic style that combines fine art, illustration and mysticism – a quality that transcends time and setting.

I use the individual pages as a template for paintings on canvas. My idea is not to copy the pre-existing drawing, but to use it as a map for exploring formal possibilities of scale and matter. An interesting side effect comes from the presence of the current Sketchbook during this exploration on canvas. As I search for painting solutions, I naturally take up my Sketchbook to think through possibilities on pages that in turn give rise to other paintings. Paintings become the sketches for Sketchbook pages.
-Marcus McAllister

The year 2012 saw a number of exhibitions and events, including to name just a few, Chic Dessin, Galerie Polysémie, Paris, France; a Paris-based solo exhibition, Rose de silence, that took place in March; Affordable Art Fair New York City with Decorazon Gallery held in April; and the London exhibition, Distilled Memory, with Susan Mumford Art Projects/Consultancy at the Framers Gallery on Windmill Street. 

Education:
1991 Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2013: Le courage écarte la tristesse, Galerie 43, Paris.
2012: Estomac onirique, Galerie Chez Grace, Paris;
Selon ses propres lois, Galerie Batignolle’s Art, Paris;
Rose de silence, Galerie 43, Paris.
2011: L’alchimie de cristallisation, Paris;
Dentelle Spatiale, Galerie 43, Paris;Paintings, Gai Moulin, Paris.
2010: Elegant Movement Ouside of Time, The Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA;
Déhiscence, Columbia University à Paris;
Elegant Movement Ouside of Time, Gallery 26, Little Rock, AR, USA.
2009: Earthly Jewels and Spatial Lace, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia AR;
Dream Passages, a break in time from another place, Mumford Fine Art, London;
Marcus McAllister, Stylepixie Gallery, Ivry sur Seine;
Timely Layers, Hannah Davis Gallery, Memphis, TN.
2008: From Known Quantities, The Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA;
Chemin Faisant, Centre d’art de l’Ancienne Synagogue, La Ferté-sous-Jouarre;
From Known Quantities, Gallery 26, Little Rock, AR.
2007:Dreambelly Fragments, The Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA;
Peintures, La Galerie Parisienne, Paris;
Le 43^e envolé, Galerie 43, Paris.
2006:Passages,Galerie des AAB, Paris.
2005:  Malgré les obstacles, Communauté de Communes du pays de Limours (Essonne);
Carte blanche à François Perche, Médiathèque de La Riche (Tours).
2004:  A la recherche de l’intention, Galerie Marie-Pierre Deloeil, Paris.
2003:Rencontres avec Baudelaire, Wagner, et Wilde, Hôtel du Quai Voltaire, Paris;
Le désir : sa puissance, son absence et son contraire, L’arbre à lettres, Paris.
2002:Parole de Guérite, Hôtel du Quai Voltaire, Paris;
Volonté de Guetteur, Epée de bois, Paris.
2001: Mise en boîte, Galerie Tan Noz, Paris;
Les Petites Guérites, Citadelle Vauban, Belle-Ile-en-Mer.
2000:Expulsion/protection, Parsons School of Design, Paris;
L’hybride, GERF, Université de Grenoble III.

Contemporary Art Salons/Fairs:
2012: Affordable Art Fair, Decorazon Gallery, New York City, USA;
Chic Dessin, Galerie Polysémie, Nîmes, France.
2010: Art Nîm, Galerie Polysémie, Nîmes, France;
5e Festival Ici & Ailleurs, Brest.
2008: Sm’art, Amis de la Création Contemporaine, Aix-en-Provence; 4e Festival Ici & Ailleurs, Brest.
2007: Mozaïque, 2e Salon d’art Contemporain, Roissy en Brie.
2006: 3e Festival Ici & Ailleurs, Guest of honor, Brest.
2004: Lineart, Galerie Marie-Pierre Deloeil, Gand, Belgique;
Les Inattendus, Galerie Marie-Pierre Deloeil, Paris;
Art Paris, Manège Art Gallery, Paris;
Guest of honor – Salon International d’arts plastiques et figuratifs de Palerme, Italie.
2003: Art Paris, Manège Art Gallery, Paris;
Histoires naturelles, Muséum National de l’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Selected Group Shows: (since 2000)
2013: Crossing Borders, Susan Mumford art projects + consultancy, Oxford American’s South on Main, Arkansas, USA;
2012: Distilled Memory, Susan Mumford art projects + consultancy, Pop-up Exhibition at the Framers Gallery, London;
Galerie Polysemie à la Galerie de la Prévoté, Aix en Provence;
Promenade Artistique, Molineu.
2011: Public Chéri Mon Amour, Nuit Blanche at the Fabrique Gallery, Ivry sur Seine;
Art@300, Heaven Fine Art, Asbury Park, NJ USA;
November Group Show, Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA USA.
2010:Masquerade, Heaven Fine Art, Asbury Park, NJ USA;
Summer in the City, Mumford Fine Art, London;
Smwrks, Heaven Fine Art, Asbury Park, NJ USA.
2009: GOLDENB_ART, Golden Brain, Paris;
Seats in the City, Stylepixie Gallery, Ivry sur Seine;
The Stuff of Dreams, Greenlane Gallery, Paris;
Spontaneity and the Sub-conscious, Ann Connelly Fine Art Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA.
2008: The Sky is Gray, Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA;
Marcus McAllister et Damien Roudeau, Galerie 22 Jamoz, Coustellet, Carrières d’Avignon.
2007: Holiday Group Show, Gallery 26, Little Rock, AR;
En Plein View, CAN, New York, NY;
Work in Progress, L’Ecume du jour, Beauvais 2006   Holiday Group Show, Gallery 26, Little Rock, AR;
Territoires singuliers, L’Ecume du jour, Beauvais.
2005: Holiday Group Show, Gallery 26, Little Rock, AR;
Inspiration, Calapa, Bruxelles, Belgique;
Voyages, L’Ecume du jour, Beauvais;
New Members Show, The Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
Investigations Mécénales n°5, Collège de Polytechnique / Calapa, Paris.
2004: Rendez-vous au coin de la rue, Abawe.com, Paris;
Festival des Sens, Le Marin, Martinique;
Mesure/démesure, Collectif Alentours, Compiègne.
2003: Plumes et poils, Le Lucernaire, Paris;
Delta Chaud, Galerie Delta, Paris;
Vœux d’artistes, Paris.
2002: Nos petites bibliothèques, Médiathèque d’Orléans;
Si Paris m’était croqué…, Galerie Tan Noz, Paris;
Peintures et Photographies, Citadelle Vauban, Belle-Ile-en-Mer;
Marathon artistique de l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue;
Artistes en C(h)oeur, Abawe.com, Paris;
Le Printemps du Delta, Galerie Delta, Paris.
2001: Galerie 43, Paris;
Deux ans de Figures de Style, Figures de Style, Paris;
Marathon artistique de l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue;
Les Locos dans nos Locaux !, Abawe.com, Avignon;
Exposition de janvier, Galerie Henry, Pau.
2000: Je me raconte des contes de fées, Figures de Style, Paris;
Portes Ouvertes de Belleville, Ateliers des Artistes de Belleville, Paris, chaque année depuis 2000.

Publications & Press:
2012: Dentelle Spatiale, Editions d’Empiria
Valerie Malivoir, Jeux de transparence, Artistes Magazine, Mar/April 2012, pp 38-43
2011: Estomac Onirique, selection from volumes 60-68 of Marcus McAllister’s Sketchbook, Editions d’Empiria
Les Gens de Saint Jean, L’Ecume du Jour
2010: Claude Sternis, Lettre de saison, Les Editions Aquilon et l’Association Asphodèle
Pyro n°23, Editions Le Grand Incendie, June 2010
Robin Miller, Theme of time weaves through BR Gallery exhibit, The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, 19 Dec 2010
Ellis Widner, Cryptic rabbits revealed, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR, 26 Jan 2010
2008: Dans l’antre des créateurs, Le Journal du dimanche, Nov 2008;
Robin Miller, Revelation theme runs through 3-artist show at BR Gallery, The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA, 21 Dec 2008
2007: Adelaide Russo, Le Peintre comme modèle, du surréalisme à l’extrême contemporain, Presses Universitaires du Septentrion
Stéphane Cugnier, Marcus McAllister, un figuratif à “l’estomac onirique”, Oise Hebdo, 25 April 2007, p. 32
2006: Rhonda Owen, High Profile, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR, 30 July 2006
La Revue Commune n°42, Sept 2006
Pyro n°6, Editions Le Grand Incendie, March 2006
2005: Valerie Auriel, Esthétique de l’écriture, Artistes Magazine, Sept/Oct 2005, pp 38-41
Cecile Filliette, Carnets de voyages, Edition Dessain et Tolra
Un peintre hors du temps, Le Républicain, 20 Oct 2005
Soyez curieux, poussez la porte de l’Ecume, L’Observateur, 10 Nov 2005
2004: 36 le souvenir d’un oeil interne, Editions l’oeil pour l’oeil, France;
Isabelle Guillaume, De retour d’un voyage intérieur: les carnets de Marcus McAllister, Le Petit Journal du GMAC, pp 6-7, cover
2003: 35 pour voir plus clair, Editions l’oeil pour l’oeil, France
2000: William Schnabel, L’hybride chez le peintre Marcus McAllister, Les cahiers du Gerf 7, pp 93-95, cover

Lectures:
2009: Earthly Jewels and Spatial Lace, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR, USA.
2008: Follow the Sketchbook, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
2001: Protection Monstrueuse, Université de Pau, France.

Collections:
France
Germany
USA
UK (England & Scotland)
Belgium
Canada
Japan
Australia
Morocco

Artist Residencies:
2007 April and May with the city of Beauvais and L’Ecume du jour for the project « Grandir avec ma ville »