Phillip Allen at MILES McENERY GALLERY

James Kalm first encountered the paintings of Phillip Allen over twenty years ago, at his one person show at PS1 in 2002, and he was impressed. During the intervening years, your correspondent has caught glimpses of Allen’s work here and there, but always with sustained interest. During a recent visit to Miles McEnery, Kalm was informed that Allen would have an upcoming exhibition, but it was due to total serendipity that he was biking through the neighborhood on the night of this opening. Perhaps one of the most extravagant of the “material” painters, these works present whimsical swirling shapes, using various compositional notions, in luscious color surrounded with thick globs of oil paint that verge into the sculptural. Phillip Allen was gracious enough give your reporter a brief interview. A musical introduction is provided by Frank Picarazzi. This program was recorded February 8, 2024. #jameskalmreport #jameskalmroughcut #lorenmunk

[@leighjohnstone8079]

Great show, lovely work. Thanks James and Kate

[@jbartel1]

Loved the interview with the artist at the end. Especially since when you first did your walk around, having recently given up sugar, I immediately wanted a piece of ribbon candy😝
Thanks for bringing good NYC shows to us! and thank you Kate!

[@sublimeister9630]

Philip Allen looks similar to Dennis Hollingsworth…nothing but colourful ornamentalism with paint globs. 👍😊

[@jameskalm]

hey @sublimeister9630 I appreciate your connecting the works of Phillip Allen and those of Dennis Hollingsworth, both of them would fall into my category of the "material" painters, thanks for the insight...JK

[@tonsfocus]

I agree with your early take (early in the video) that his color choices are very notable. His content reminds me of Beatriz Milhazes. So fantastic when you do those on-the-fly interviews - really adds a lot! Thank you JK, thanks Kate.

[@timeenoughforart]

I was thinking of the rock posters out of San Francisco in the 60's. I'm enjoying this "trip". So far from my studio here on the edge of the sage brush desert near the cultural Mecca, Jerome Idaho. Boise is so far away, New York is another country. London, just a dream. Now just a click and a bike ride away.

[@59jaguar]

The colors and designs remind me of old Tibetan paintings of deities and such. Good show and glad you got to talk to the artist a bit. Like hearing from the artist .

[@richardmundy4288]

Great colorist

[@italogiardina8183]

Peddling down on a recumbent bike is most luxurious.

[@adriancarroll6995]

Freshly made, Non-pejorative painting. A little thread of authentic flare with nice colors and strong sense of scale and composition.

[@RonaldGosses]

Again than you so much!

[@johnmountainstone1177]

Don't get a chance to say this very often but his work in this show is criminally underpriced!

[@bearbait7405]

Thank you, Kate…and my hero, Loren.

[@superfly2449]

That’s some chunky paint for sure. Edit to thank Kate!

[@adriancarroll6995]

Colorful clumpy and bumpy definitely not frumpy.

[@AntonArmsberg]

It looks awesome and original!

[@johnjones3714]

Popcorn impasto sounds like a winner
Thank you Kate ❤️

[@stepladder13]

Not normally my kind of thing but these made me smile🙂 Thank you Kate!

[@edwardferry8247]

Are these the times for whimsy ?

[@jameskalm]

Probably...JK

[@jbb483]

Great work. Thanks for posting!

[@message_service]

Very nice 👍 I like how they interact with light
Thank you 🎀

[@michaelrowe1907]

Thank you Kate And James

[@robinjones3136]

Wow! Excellent 👌👍 thanks Kate and lmjk

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate! ❤

[@hamtodey]

Great...

[@adriancarroll6995]

Terrific

[@AlexStolyarov-f9s]

Wonderful painter

[@kimwilkie9819]

Thank you Kate!

[@kareymaurice3236]

I love the textures and the treatment of the edge of the paintings. Fresh approach to sealing the deal! Thank you Kate...