Alison K. Dunn was raised in Wheaton, Illinois. She earned a BA and MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Arizona State University. After briefly teaching as a lecturer in Humanities, she returned to ASU to earn an MFA in Painting in 1995. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona.
Artist Statement: I usually begin with a piece of language-- a word or phrase-- that sets in motion a chain of paint-based reactions. Somewhere along the way I drag in colors or gestures that intuitively fit the titles. Every glob of paint and each color relationship is calculated according to the needs of the painting. Sometimes I look at historical paintings, and try to find something that hits me as being the nucleus--It's all very subjective of course. I'm willing to pretend that the paintings have their own self awareness, can react to themselves, can go on living.
EDUCATION
1995 MFA, Painting, Arizona State University
1989 MA, Interdisciplinary Humanities, Arizona State University
1985 BA, Interdisciplinary Humanities, Arizona State University, summa cum laude.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009 Stark Gallery, Xavier College Preparatory, Phoenix, AZ
2008 eyelounge artspace, Phoenix, AZ
2007 eyelounge artspace, Phoenix, AZ
2005 Fala Collections, Tucson, AZ
eyelounge Artspace, Phoenix, AZ
2004 Studio LoDo/PCCA, Phoenix, AZ
2002 Cervini-Haas Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2001 Joan Grona Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
1997 Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
1996 Finch Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, AZ
1995 Harry Wood Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017 NAEA Inaugural Juried Members Exhibition, Alexandria, VA
2015 Gammage Auditorium, Arizona State University, AZ
"Sel-Made", The Vision Gallery, Chandler, AZ
2013 All Art Arizona, Art Intersection, Gilbert, AZ
The Walter Art Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, “Snap to Grid”
2011 A Night of Stars, Phoenix Art Museum Auction, AZ
2008 Benevolent Beauty, Cella Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
-Building a Collection VIII, Phoenix Art Museum, AZ
Living Large, Renee George Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2007 Mythology, Alexander-Rave Gallery (now Cella Gallery), Studio City, CA
-Building a Collection VII, Phoenix Art Museum, AZ
2006 Southwest Biennial, Albuquerque Museum of Art, NM; juror Neal Benezra
Place, eyelounge Artspace, Phoenix, AZ
Anniversary Show, Hayes George Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Ready Set D’art, Tucson Museum of Art
Art Detour, Eyelounge Artspace, Phoenix
2005 -Trading Voices, Arvada Ctr. For the Arts, juror Diane P Vanderlip; CO
-Building a Collection V, Phoenix Art Museum, AZ
2004 -Open National, Long Beach Arts Center, juror: Jim Morphesis, CA
2003 -International Biennial of Contemporary Art, Florence, Italy
-Arizona Biennial, Tucson Museum of Art, AZ
-Building a Collection IV, Phoenix Art Museum Benefit Auction, AZ
2002 -Red Dot, Blue Star Artspace, San Antonio, TX
-Annual Faculty Art Exhibition, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2001 -The Grammar of Ornament, Memphis College of Art (three- person invitational), TN
2000 -Regional Women’s Invitational, Marshall Arts Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
-Building a Collection III, Phoenix Art Museum Benefit Auction
1999 -Biennial MFA Alumni Juried Exhibition, Arizona State University
1998 -Contemporary Forum Annual Exhibition, The Icehouse, Phoenix, AZ.
-Building a Collection II , Phoenix Art Museum Benefit Auction
-Building a Collection, Phoenix Art Museum Benefit Auction, AZ
1996 -Arizona Here and Now, Arizona State University Art Museum
1995 -Seven State Regional Biennial, Dinnerware Gallery, Tucson, AZ
AWARDS/GRANTS
2002 -Faculty Development Grant, ASU Foundation- Herberger College of Art, Arizona State University
2001 -Faculty Project Grant, Trinity University, TX
1997 -Contemporary Forum/ Phoenix Art Museum Artists Materials Grant
1994 -Liquitex Excellence in Art Grant
1985 -Phi Beta Kappa
-Parker Award for Excellence in the Humanities, Arizona State University
-Regents Scholar, Arizona State University
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Scottsdale Museum for Contemporary Art, Scottsdale Valley Ho, City of Chandler, Hospice of the Valley
TEACHING POSITIONS
1996-2008 Arizona State University, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX; Mesa Community College
2008- Present Xavier College Preparatory, Phoenix, AZ
