ARTIST SPOTLIGHT | Craig Alan
August 9, 2023 – Born in California and raised in the Atlanta area, Craig Alan first started drawing as a kid and by age 7 his capacity for visual interpretation became undeniable. After excelling in art classes in school he decided to further his abilities and pursue a formal arts education. He accepted a soccer scholarship at the University of Mobile, Alabama, with a side focus on studio art. On the weekends he would drive to New Orleans offering portraits to passersby on the streets in watercolour and charcoal for as little as 30 dollars. This practice helped him perfect his study of the human form which is so evident in his work today and gave him a budding sense of economic autonomy.
His minor concentration in theatre diversified Craig’s craft and armed him with techniques in makeup and set design. This blend of influences and media is apparent in Craig’s works which display his vast knowledge of the human form along with the colorful worlds they occupy. Upon graduating, he earned an award for academic excellence and one of his pieces was featured out of 1600 submissions at the school’s most prestigious exhibition, “Art with a Southern Drawl”.
In his prolific career you will find a distinct textbook artistic knowledge and keen aesthetic sense. His collections showcase everything from abstract expressionism to haunting, graphic realism, each a reflection of Alan’s unique vision. He is most well-known for his Populus series, which he drew inspiration from when attending a wedding in Orange Beach, Alabama. He was standing on a balcony overlooking the wedding guests and noticed that the patrons seemed to form the shape of an eye where they stood. Since this epiphany, the series is now home to dozens of icons of all ages including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Mercury, Audrey Hepburn and many more.
Alan is publicly recognized as an innovator in the visual arts industry and has achieved countless feats over the years including year-round presence in more than 15 major U.S galleries, more than 40 galleries in England, and many more in Germany and Canada. His Populus portrait of Nelson Mandela went viral and turned into a tribute event and his portrait of Harry Reid is presented in the U.S Capitol Building in Washington D.C. Alan is humbled to see his work inspiring creativity among enthusiasts and says encouragingly to the budding artist “be yourself and do what YOU want to do, not what someone else advises or suggests.”
If you are interested in seeing our exclusive selection please check out Craig Alan’s page here.
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