In her new series, "Wild Home", Allison Harn explores the fascinating convergence of the wild and the familiar, using birds and traditional feminine crafts as vehicles to delve deeper into this dynamic. This collection, created with acrylic gouache on canvas and watercolor paper, portrays a variety of birds set against backgrounds inspired by home textiles, quilts, stained glass, needlework, sewing, floral patterns, and the beauty of gardening—all of which have influenced her artistic vision. Birds, often featured in domestic patterns like wallpaper, textiles, and dishware, symbolize the intersection of the wild and the familiar. These traditionally feminine arts, frequently dismissed as mere hobbies or crafts, serve as the perfect backdrop for the vibrant, untamed beauty of avian life, celebrating both the wild and the domestic in one harmonious space.
The women in Harn’s life have profoundly shaped her understanding of home, with their artistry—ranging from the delicate stitches of a quilt to the intricate patterns of stained glass—mirroring the often-overlooked wild beauty of birds. Like these crafts, birds have a quiet presence, bringing unrecognized joy to our everyday lives. They symbolize both a connection to nature and the familiarity of home, making them the perfect subject to explore this theme of integration between the natural world and domestic comfort.
Through the contrast of the wild birds with these nostalgic, handcrafted backgrounds, Harn seeks to illustrate how the wild can both disrupt and enrich our surroundings. The vibrant colors and detailed textures of the birds, rendered in acrylic gouache, serve to highlight their beauty and significance within the home, much like a handmade quilt or a sewn piece would bring warmth and personality to a space.
Wild Home represents an evolution in Harn’s artistic practice, marking the first time she has woven together all the themes from her previous works into a cohesive series. In this body of art, she invites viewers to reflect on the overlooked yet profound presence of both the wild and the familiar—and to consider how these elements, often seen as separate, can coexist and enrich our lives when brought together.
This series is a tribute to the women who have shaped Harn’s understanding of home and an exploration of how feminine art and craft can serve as a platform to highlight the beauty of nature. Through the birds that bring both quiet joy and untamed energy to our daily environments, this work honors the significance of both nature and the domestic realm.
Living Wallpaper: This series features the sandhill crane, with its understated beauty, set against the almost neon-level vibrancy of painted philodendrons. The electric saturation of the plants evokes the bold, saturated colors that defined the 1980s, a time when philodendrons were everywhere, filling homes with their lush presence. I’ve always admired the elegance of the sandhill crane, a creature often seen in interior design textiles and ceramics, adding a sense of refined grace. The vibrant, almost surreal color palette of the philodendrons brings a nostalgic energy to the piece, blending nature’s beauty with the bold aesthetic of the era, creating a visual celebration of both memory and design.
Family Tree: This painting weaves together the distinct yet interconnected legacies of my grandmothers, each embodying their unique passions and shaping the branches of my family’s history. On my paternal side, my grandmother's artistry in crafting vibrant, meticulously stitched quilts comes to life through the rich, layered textures and bold colors in the piece. On my maternal side, the goldfinches—small, brilliant bursts of yellow and gold—evoke the memory of my grandmother’s love for birds, whose delicate presence would grace the feeders outside her kitchen window, bringing a sense of tranquility and joy. The male and two female goldfinches featured in the piece also represent myself, my husband, and my daughter, capturing the unity of our family alongside the legacies of both sides of my heritage. This painting honors both the nurturing, artistic energy of my grandmothers and the deep roots of love and connection that continue to grow in our family tree.
The White Room: Flamingos, my mother’s favorite birds, are paired with her love for mid-century modern design in this piece, reflecting her career in interior design and the influence it’s had on my use of pattern. The "White Room" itself was a place we were never allowed to play in at my grandmother’s house—the formal living room, with its soft, almost muted color palette, was a space of quiet elegance. The room’s mantle was always adorned with beautiful ceramic birds, a detail that has stayed with me and is woven into this work as both a tribute to my family’s aesthetic and a reflection on the contrast between childhood playfulness and the stillness of grown-up spaces. The circular pattern featured in this piece was created by using a child's drinking cup—an object that was never allowed in that room—adding an element of rebellious nostalgia, as if reclaiming a piece of that childhood joy within the boundaries of adult formality.
Series in Progress
Additional Photos Coming Soon
Additional Photos Coming Soon
